JP2010137544A - System for printing booklet on pre-bound page - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for printing on pages of a block of printable pages that are pre-bound along the bound edge of each page. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus includes a block support structure comprising two height-adjustable tables for supporting the block of printable pages in two adjacent stacks so that when a page is turned from atop a first stack to an adjacent second stack, the two adjacent stacks present substantially co-planar printable top surfaces. The apparatus also includes a movable bridge configured to move a printer over a printable top surface to print on the printable top surface; and a page turning mechanism including a roller configured to partially lift a bound top page of the first stack, and a page flipping tab for sliding under the partially lifted bound top page so that the partially lifted bound top page is flipped over to the second stack presenting new printable top surfaces for the printer to print on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to printing. In particular, the present invention relates to printing on booklets with pre-bound pages.

  While many have improved in mechanization to address the speed and quality of the printing and binding process, the level of booklet printing and assembly has not changed much in the basic steps of booklet printing and assembly.

  Generally speaking, the process is as follows. First, a page is printed. The page is then cut so that it can be verified or assembled into the signature. The text block is then formed by joining the signatures either by sewing or gluing. Finally, the cover is attached. Thus, the process of forming text blocks is performed only on the number of pages in the booklet, and the process is repeated for each booklet that occurs.

While this process is well suited for mass production, it leaves little room for the production of a small number of booklets and is totally unsuitable for the production of a single booklet.

  Some patents relate to devices that print on pre-bound booklets such as bankbooks. All of that uses a mechanism that keeps the booklet flat. In US Pat. No. 6,036,381 (Mizukami et al.), A booklet is opened, placed on a support surface and fed in a feeding direction parallel to the coupling end. A groove for the back of the booklet and a roller pressing the two sides of the booklet keep the surface generally flat. In US Pat. No. 4,776,711 (Harada), two printing devices are used to compensate for the different height of each opened page. In US Pat. No. 4,029,193 (Kwan), the individual spring-biased portions of the platen placed against the booklet cover compensate for the changing height.

  In US Pat. No. 5,267,799 (Nukada), a pre-bound booklet is opened and inserted into a selected page. The designated page is divided into other pages of the booklet by a page turning mechanism and guided onto the platen roller. The apparatus includes a mechanism that applies tension onto the page specified by the booklet seams. The page is thus held against the platen roller and the data is printed on the designated page.

  U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2001/022911 A1 (Kimura et al.) Discloses a passbook page turning apparatus. Upon detecting that the inserted page is full, the combined action of the booklet roller and motion is used to turn the booklet page or pages. By pre-marking the booklet pages, the device can determine whether only one page has been turned.

  In all of the prior art described above, the movement of the print head is limited to a maximum of one dimension. Thus, printing on a bound booklet requires physical transport of the booklet from one location to another. Since the device is mainly related to small bankbooks, the booklet operation does not present a serious problem. However, adapting these techniques to larger sized booklets requires equipment that occupies a large amount of space. This would probably make the device unsuitable as a home device for printing booklets.

US Pat. No. 6,762,356 (McNab et al.) Describes an apparatus for turning booklet pages. A transparent sheet or disc is manually inserted into the booklet page in advance so that the selected page is automatically turned. The page turning device is intended to be used in conjunction with an associated copier or similar device. However, the transparent sheet prevents the page from being opened for printing purposes.

  US Pat. No. 5,806,991 (Hubler) describes a method and apparatus for printing an entire bound booklet. The page is lifted by a suction device and the moving print head prints on both sides of the lifted page. When the page is printed, the page turning operation is then completed and the page turning operation is completed while the next page is lifted and printing on it begins. Such devices require the print head to move with complex motion. This makes it difficult to manufacture and maintain such devices. When printing on vertical pages, the device must necessarily occupy enough vertical space to accommodate the printheads and their support structures. These restrictions also make such devices unsuitable for home use. In addition, simultaneous movement by the print head and roller on the page can cause ink smudging.

  Separating printed pages from non-printed pages is not assumed in any of the devices described above. A pre-bound booklet of a fixed size is inserted into the device and the final printed booklet has the same number of pages.

  Japanese Patent No. 5162485 A1 discloses an apparatus for printing and turning on a bound booklet page. In this apparatus, printing is performed when the printing apparatus moves in one direction, and page turning occurs when the printing apparatus moves in the other direction. Also, separating the printing and page turning operations slows the printing process. In addition, the described compatibility between scan heads and print heads is not possible with current standard printing technologies. As described, turning pages with a friction belt can smudge new printed pages with ink.

International Patent Publication WO 2006/123338 A2 (Haim) prints on the top of a booklet that has been bound in advance and is printed from an unprinted page of the booklet in order to move the printed page to open the unprinted page. A device for separating pages is described. Since the booklet must be held securely against the guide rail, the device will first release the booklet from the guide rail, turn the page, and then turn on the booklet before printing on a newly opened unprinted page. Move the guide rail to another location. This action slows down the printing process and, in addition, the device takes up an excessive amount of space.

Therefore, to quickly print on demand on various size booklets in standard size pre-bound page blocks, effectively and automatically separate printed pages from unprinted pages There is a need for a compact system.

  Providing a compact integrated system for quickly printing pre-bound booklet pages suitable for home use and automatically separating printed pages from unprinted pages It is an object of the invention.

Thus, some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for printing on a page of a block of printable pages pre-bound by a binding along the combined edge of each page. The apparatus includes two adjacent stacks such that when a page is turned from the top of the first stack to the adjacent second stack, the two adjacent stacks exhibit essentially coplanar printable top surfaces. A block support structure including two height-adjustable tables for supporting a block of printable pages; suitable for movement in at least one dimension including a printing device and capable of printing to print on a printable top surface A movable bridge configured to move the printing device in a controlled manner on the upper surface; a roller configured to partially lift the upper page of the first stack binding; and if the bridge moves, The upper page of the partially lifted binding is partially lifted so that the printing device flips to a second stack showing a new printable top surface for printing. Including; a page turning mechanism which is connected to the movable bridge and a page flipping tabs slide under the top of the page.

    Further in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the page turning mechanism includes an electric motor for moving the rollers.

Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the roller is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is essentially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the movable bridge.

Further, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the flip tab is at the tip of the movable bridge.

Further in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the block support structure comprises a controller and at least one sensor for detecting either the printable top surface or height.

Further in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, at least one sensor is coupled to the movable bridge.

  Further in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, at least one sensor is coupled to the printing device.

Further in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the at least one sensor includes at least two detection devices, wherein one of the at least two detection devices is any height of the printable top surface. Is configured to detect if the maximum allowable value is exceeded, and one of the at least two detection devices is configured to detect whether the height of any of the printable top surfaces exceeds the minimum allowable value. The

  Further in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus includes a separation mechanism for separating the first and second stacks of pages.

  Further in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the separation mechanism includes a wire and a wire pulling device that pulls the wire between the first and second stacks of pages, whereby the first and second of the pages. Divide between the second stacks.

  Further, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the wire pulling device is attached to the printing device so that the movement of the printing device pulls the wire.

  Further in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus includes a device for raising and lowering the wire.

  In order to better understand the invention and recognize its practical application, the following figures are provided and referenced below. It should be noted that the figures are given for illustration only and in no way limit the scope of the invention. Similar components are denoted by similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a printer device for printing on a block of printable pages according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a printing bridge and printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2B is a side view of the printing bridge and printing device of FIG. 2A, shown positioned above a block of pre-bound pages.

FIG. 3A is a side view of a page lift assembly in a lifted state, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3B is a side view of the page lift assembly of FIG. 3A while being lowered.

FIG. 3C is a side view of the page lift assembly of FIG. 3A lowered to a page stack.

FIG. 4 illustrates page lifting and flipping according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates components of a printer device configured for separation of a pre-bound block stack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of an expandable wire retention arm and expansion mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the wire-holding arm of FIG. 6 in an expanded state.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a binding of a pre-bound block illustrating the binding of the binding according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system is described as generating a booklet by printing directly on a page of a pre-bound block of unprinted pages and separating the printed page from the unprinted pages in the block. ing.

  As an introduction, the present invention relates to a printer device and a method for generating a booklet using such a device. The printer device is configured to print on a page of a block of printable pages pre-bound by a binding bound along the edge of each page binding. Printable pages include pages that can be printed using an embodiment of the printer apparatus of the present invention. It is within the scope of the present invention that such pages can be printed in advance with watermarks, backgrounds, patterns, illustrations, and images, but is not limited thereto. Since the pages are bound together before printing, it is necessary to place the blocks in two interconnected stacks joined by a bound binding.

  One or more cooperating controllers, including electronic components and program learning, communicate with the printer device components and control operation. Such components include a device for mounting on a movable printing bridge, a stack support table with adjustable height, and a device used in separating the stacks from one another.

  A movable printing device mounted on the movable printing bridge prints on the top surface of each stack. The print bridge also includes means for turning the printed page. Page turning involves lifting the top page of a stack and opening an unprinted page under the lifted page. The lifted page is then flipped over another stack where the unprinted side of the page flipped over it is opened.

  The printing bridge also includes one or more sensors for confirming the stack height under the printing device. Since each stack height changes each time a page is turned, the printer device includes two height adjustable stack support tables. Each table supports one of the two stacks. The height adjustable table operates in response to the output of the height determining sensor.

  When the booklet printing is complete, the stack of printed pages is linked to the stack of unprinted pages by a bound book. The printer device includes separation means. In an embodiment of the invention, the separating means comprises a strong, bent wire. The components of the movable printing device and the wire lifting and lowering device cooperate to pull the wire across the bent binding that connects the printed page stack to the unprinted page stack. The wire cuts the binding and separates the stack from each other.

  The principles and operation of the booklet generating system of the present invention can be better understood with reference to the figures and accompanying descriptions.

  FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a printer device for printing on a block of printable pages according to an embodiment of the present invention. The components of the printer device 30 are mounted on the device frame 31. A pre-bound block 20 of printable pages is shown to be placed in the printer device 30. The printable page of block 20 is bound along the edge of the binding with a binding binding. During the printing process, the block 20 is placed in two stacks 20A and 20B. The binding edges (22A and 22B in FIG. 2B) of the stacks 20A and 20B face each other. Stacks 20A and 20B are joined by a binding that is bent at binding connection 28. Printing is performed on the printable top surfaces 26A and 26B of the stacks 20A and 20B. During the printing process, there may be times when some pages have already been printed and many remain unprinted. At such time, the pages of stack 20B below top surface 26B are not printed, while the pages of stack 20A are already printed below top surface 26A.

  Stacks 20A and 20B are supported by height adjustable tables 32A and 32B, respectively. The vertical movement of the height adjustable tables 32A and 32B is controlled by a controller (not shown). The up and down movement of the tables 32A and 32B can be actuated by, but not limited to, an electric motor, pneumatic device, hydraulic device or essentially any other suitable device known in the prior art.

  A mechanism for raising and lowering the height adjustable table 32A or 32B according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described. Such a mechanism for raising and lowering the table 32A is partially shown in FIG. A similar mechanism not shown is provided to raise and lower the table 32B. The height of the table 32 </ b> A is raised and lowered by the scissor mechanism 92. The lower ends of the leg portions of the pair of scissors mechanisms 92 are fixed by a pivot coupling 100. The lower ends of the other two legs of the scissor mechanism 92 are attached to the bar 94. Each end of the bar 94 can slide horizontally in the groove 96. One end of the screw mechanism 88 is passed through the screw hole of the bar 94. The other end of the screw mechanism 88 is fixed.

A motor (not shown) turns the screw mechanism 88 when directed by the controller. When the screw mechanism 88 rotates in one direction, the end of the screw mechanism 88 is threaded deeper by the bar 94 and pulls the bar 94 toward the pivot coupling 100. The effect is to bring the bar 94 closer to the pivot coupling 100, close the scissor mechanism 92, and raise the table 32A. Adjustment of the screw mechanism 88 in the reverse direction causes the end of the screw mechanism 88 to be retracted from the bar 94. The bar 94 is pushed away from the pivot 100, opens the scissor mechanism 92, and lowers the table 32A.

One end of each spring 98 is connected to the bar 94. The other end of the spring 98 is connected to a position near the pivot coupling 100. The spring 98 assists in raising and lowering the table 32A by being mounted in advance. Pre-mounting reduces the load on the motor that turns the screw mechanism 88.

The printing bridge 42 is placed on the two slide shafts 44. The anti-friction ring 60 (one slide axis is shown in FIG. 1; both shown in FIG. 2A) allows the printing bridge 42 to slide back and forth along the slide axis 44. In response to an instruction from the controller, the power unit 56 moves the main belt 34. The operation of the main belt 34 rotates the torque shaft 36. The rotation of the torque shaft 36 moves one or more timing belts 58. The timing belt 58 is attached to the printing bridge 42. The driven timing belt 58 slides the controlled distance printing bridge 42 along the slide shaft 44. It should be understood that any other means known to those skilled in the art for performing the control action of the print bridge 42 is within the scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a printing bridge and printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a side view and printing device of the print bridge of FIG. 2A shown as being placed on a block of pre-bound pages. The printing apparatus 40 is placed on the guide shaft 54 of the printing bridge 42. The printing device 40 moves back and forth along the guide shaft 54 in response to the applied force as follows: In response to an instruction from the controller, a motor (not shown) moves the belt 52. The belt 52 is attached to the printing apparatus 40. The controlled distance printing device 40 is moved along the guide shaft 54 by the operation of the belt 52. In an embodiment of the invention, the movement of the printing device 40 along the axis 54 is perpendicular to the movement of the bridge 42 along the slide axis 44. The combined control action of the printing bridge 42 along the slide axis 44 and the printing apparatus 40 along the guide axis 54 allows for the controlled positioning of the printing apparatus 40 on the printable top surfaces 26A and 26B. To do. The print head 41 of the printing device 40 can thus print at a controlled location on the printable top surfaces 26A and 26B. It should be understood that any other means known to those skilled in the art for performing the control operation of the printing device 40 is within the scope of the present invention.

  During a typical printing operation according to an embodiment of the present invention, the printing bridge 42 remains stationary at a position along the slide axis 44 while the printing device 40 moves along the guide axis 54. During this operation of the printing device 40, the print head 41 can print within the boundaries of a piece of printable surface. The size of a piece is measured by the size of the print area that is covered by the distance between the printhead 41 moving along the guide axis 54 and the stationary printhead. The long dimension of the piece is oriented parallel to the guide shaft 54. When the operation of the printing device 40 along the guide shaft 54 is completed, the printing bridge 42 moves to an adjacent position along the slide shaft 44. The printing device 40 then moves along the axis 54 and prints within the strip of printable surface that is adjacent to the first narrow strip.

  The arrows in FIG. 2B indicate the direction of typical operation of the print bridge 42 during a typical printing operation, according to an embodiment of the present invention. During a typical printing operation, the printing device 40 is mounted on the printing bridge 42 such that the print head 41 is at the trailing edge of the printing bridge 42. The page lift assembly 50 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 4) rests at the end of the print bridge 42 at one end of the print bridge 42. In response to an instruction from the controller, page lift assembly 50 raises and lowers roller 66. The page lift assembly 50 rotates the roller 66 as the roller 66 is lowered. The function of the roller 66 is to lift the page. The lifted page is further raised by the page flip tab 62. The scope of the present invention is a page lift element comprised of a roller, electrostatic element, vacuum element, or any other element known in the art that can be mounted on a movable bridge and at least partially lift the page. It should be noted that including but not limited to the use of

  The page flip tab 62 is placed at the tip of the printing bridge 42. A page flip tab 62 is inserted under the edge of the lifted page. The page flip tab 62 advances from the print head 41 to raise the lifted page so that the print head 41 can print on the unprinted surface below the raised page. The sensor lever 74 is placed on the page flip tab 62. When the page flip tab 62 is inserted under the lifted page, the lifted page presses against the sensor lever 74. By pressing against the sensor lever 74, a sensor that sends a signal to the controller is activated. For example, the pressure lever 74 can be coupled to a tab 75 that rotates when the pressure lever 74 is pressed. The rotation of the tab 75 can block the light beam. The photoelectric sensor senses the interruption of the light and sends a signal to the controller.

  3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate the operation of the page lifting assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference is again made to the components shown in FIG. Prior to operating the page lift assembly 50, the print bridge 42 is positioned near the end of the top surface 26B, which is the distal end of the binding connection 28. Page lift assembly 50 is attached to one end of printing bridge 42. In general, when page lift assembly 50 is not activated to lift a page, roller 66 of page lift assembly 50 is placed in a high position. FIG. 3A is a side view of a raised page lift assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. In order for roller 66 to lift the page, roller 66 must be lowered onto the page. 3B is a side view of the page lift assembly 5 of FIG. 3A being lowered. The motor 51 of the roller lifting mechanism 63 (which can be seen in FIG. 4) causes the transmission arm 67 to exert a force on the roller assembly 69 and lower the roller 66. 3C is a side view of the page lifting assembly of FIG. 3A lowered onto a stack of pages. The roller 66 is lowered to the upper page 78 of the stack 20B.

  FIG. 4 illustrates page lifting and flipping according to an embodiment of the present invention. Roller 66 is lowered onto the corner of upper page 78 of stack 20B. The motor 65 of the roller assembly 69 begins to operate. Due to the transmission mechanism (not shown) of the roller assembly 69, the operation of the motor 65 rotates the roller 66 in the direction indicated by the arrow 82. The roller 66 applies a frictional force in the direction of the arrow 82 at the corner of the page 78 on which the roller 66 is placed. In addition, the binding connection 28 exerts a force on the upper page 78 to prevent the proximal end of the upper page 78 from sliding. As a result of the combination of applied forces, the upper page 78 is bent. As a result of the upper page 78 being bent, the corner 80 of the upper page 78 is raised. Corner 80 is the corner of upper page 78 that is the end of roller 66 and binding connection 28. By lifting the corner 80 of the upper page 78, the unprinted upper printable surface 26B of the stack 20B is partially opened.

  The corner 80 of the upper page 78 is lifted and the print bridge 42 moves in the direction indicated by arrow 84. The operation of the print bridge 42 inserts a flip tab 62 that rests at the tip of the print bridge 42 under the raised corner 80 of the upper page 78 in the direction of arrow 84. The printing bridge 42 continues to move in the direction of arrow 84. When the flip tab 62 contacts the upper page 78, the upper page 78 presses the sensor lever 74. A signal is sent to the controller by the upper page 78 pressing the sensor lever 74. A signal by the upper page 78 pushing the sensor lever 74 indicates that a sufficient portion of the flip tab 62 has been inserted below the corner 80 of the upper page 78. If the flip tab 62 is fully inserted under the corner 80, the flip tab 62 can keep the upper page 78 on the newly opened, unprinted printable top surface 26B.

  Pressing the sensor lever 74 generates a signal that causes the page lift assembly 50 to raise the roller 66 from the upper page 78. Raising the roller 66 frees the page 78. Due to the continuous movement of the printing bridge 42 in the direction of arrow 84, the flip tab 62 continues to raise the upper page 78. Eventually, movement of the print bridge 42 in the direction of arrow 84 brings the print head 41 behind the print bridge 42 to a position above the open printable top surface 26B. The print head 40 can begin printing on the printable top surface 26B.

  With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, near the tip of the print bridge 42, the page height sensor 68 is placed on the underside of the print bridge 42. In an embodiment of the present invention, the page height sensor 68 includes two separate essentially identical mechanical elements. Each mechanical element is in the form of a lever having a wheel mounted on its end. The wheels allow the lever to slide on the page surface without disturbing the page surface. The lever is pushed upward by contact with the underlying surface. The distance that the lever is pushed upward depends on the vicinity of the surface below it. Alternatively, the sensors can include one or more mechanical, electromagnetic, optical or acoustic sensors, or any other type of sensor that can detect near the page surface without interfering with the page. .

  In an embodiment of the present invention, each mechanical element of each page height sensor 68 includes a lever. When the lever is pushed upward by a predetermined distance, its page height sensor is activated and sends a signal to the controller. The predetermined distances for operating each two page height sensors are different from each other. The predetermined distance is selected such that one of the page height sensors 68 is activated and the other is not activated when the distance to the lower surface is within a predetermined tolerance. Activation of both sensors indicates that the distance to the lower surface is less than acceptable. A distance less than the acceptable range indicates that the lower surface is too high and the surface must be lowered. Activation of either sensor does not indicate that the distance to the lower surface is greater than the acceptable range. A distance greater than the acceptable range indicates that the lower surface is too low and the surface must be raised.

  In an embodiment of the present invention, the paper smoothing fin 70 can be placed under the printing bridge 42 (which can be seen in FIGS. 2B and 5). The paper smoothing fin 70 is placed on the surface of the page through which the printing bridge 42 passes. The paper smoothing fin 70 applies a slight pressure to the page surface under the print bridge 42. The edge of the paper smoothing fin 70 that contacts the page surface can have a smooth element. The smooth element allows the paper smoothing fins 70 to slide over the page surface without pulling the page sideways, allowing downward pressure to act. When the print bridge 42 moves over the page surface during a printing operation, the paper smoothing fin 70 precedes the print head 41 by a short distance. The function of the paper smoothing fin 70 is to help flatten the printable surface to be printed by the print head 41.

  FIG. 5 shows the components of a printer device configured in preparation for separating pre-stacked stacked blocks according to an embodiment of the present invention. The print bridge 42 was positioned near the end of the upper surface 26A, which is the end of the binding connection 28, and completed printing on the upper surfaces 26B and 26A. The rear end of the printing device 40 faces the binding connection 28. Separation is accomplished by a cutting element. In an embodiment of the invention, the cutting element is a strong, bent wire 114. Within the scope of the present invention, the cutting means is a thread, string or wire to be bent; a knife, blade or other blade; a thermal means such as an electric resistance wire, concentrated radiation or laser; a chemical means; or a bending Including, but not limited to, any other means that can be used to cut the binding.

  The wire 114 extends from the lower connection point (not shown) near the bottom of the printer device 30 to the expandable arm 110. The expandable arm 110 can be moved up and down by an arm expansion device 112. In general, and particularly during printing operations, the expandable arm 110 is in its lowered state folded within the arm expander 112. When the expandable arm 110 is folded, the wire 114 is placed near the bottom of the printer device 30. When the wire 114 is near the bottom of the printer device 30, the wire 114 does not interfere with the operation of the other components of the printer device 30. In particular, the wire 114 does not interfere with the operation of the printing bridge 42, the operation of the printing device 40, or the operation of the height adjustable tables 32A and 32B.

  In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of the expandable wire retention arm and expansion mechanism. Prior to stack separation, the arm expander 112 expands the expandable arm 110 to a raised position as follows: the motor 122 rotates the wheel 115 in a clockwise direction. The clockwise rotation of the wheel 115 is pulled downward and left by the transmission arm 109. The transmission arm 109 is pulled downward at one end of the arm 110 that can be expanded by the coupling 113. By pulling down at the coupling 113, the clockwise rotation of the expandable arm 110 about the axis 111 is expanded. The clockwise rotation of the expandable arm 110 raises the expandable arm 110 to the expanded state.

  7 shows a side view of the wire holding arm of FIG. 6 in an expanded state. With the extension of the arm 110, the wire 114 extends from a lower connection point (not shown) near the bottom of the printer device 30 to a connection point near the top of the arm 110. The height of the connection point near the top of the arm 110 is higher than the height of the binding connection 28. A portion of the wire 114 contacts the end of the binding connection 28 that is closest to the arm 110 (contact point not shown). The majority of the remainder of the wire 114 is located directly under the binding connection 28 (not shown).

  When the arm 110 is extended, the recess 118 in the arm 110 is aligned with the pin 116 on the printing device 40. The recess 118 is shaped and sized to accommodate the pin 116. Thus, controlled movement of the printing device 40 and the printing bridge 42 can insert the pin 116 into the recess 118. When the pin 116 is inserted into the recess 118, movement of the pin 116 to the left (shown in FIG. 7) causes the pin 116 to pull the wire 114 and lift the wire 114 upward and left. Contact of the wire 114 with the binding connection 28 (not shown) resists upward and leftward lifting of the wire 114 by movement of the pin 116. Lifting the wire 114 upward and left relative to the binding connection 28 causes the wire 114 to cut the binding connection 28.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a pre-bound block binding connection illustrating the cutting of the binding connection according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing device 40 and the pin 116 move in the direction of the arrow. The wire 114 contacts the binding separation 28 at the contact point 120. The action of the pin 116 in the direction of the arrow causes the wire 114 to exert a force on the binding separation 28 at the contact point 120. The force exerted by the wire 114 on the binding connection 28 at the contact point 120 cuts the binding connection 28 at the contact point 120. The continuous movement of the pin 116 in the direction of the arrow causes the contact point 120 to move in the direction of the arrow along the entire length of the binding connection 28. In the position illustrated in FIG. 8, the binding connection 28 to the right of the contact point 120 is cut, while the binding connection 28 to the left of the contact point 120 remains intact. Thus, the wire 114 cuts the binding connection 28 along its entire length by the movement of the pin 116 in the direction of the arrow. The continuous movement of the printing device 40 in the direction of the arrow brings the printing device 40 to a position near the end of the printing bridge 42 furthest from the arm 110. At this point, the printing bridge 42 can be moved away from the severed binding 28. This action of the printing bridge 42 removes the pin 116 so that the pin 116 no longer lifts the wire 114. When the pin 116 is removed from the wire 114, the expansion device 112 lowers the expandable arm 110 to its retracted state. Re-storing the expandable arm 110 places the full length of the wire 114 near the bottom of the printer device.

  Cutting the binding connection 28 along its length splits the two stacks that make up the block 20 into two separate blocks on the binding page. One of the two separate blocks is composed of fully printed pages, while the other block is composed of pages that are not fully printed. The block of printed pages can then be removed from the printer device.

  Printing a booklet according to an embodiment of the printer device 30 will now be described with respect to FIG. Operations performed during operation of the printer device 30 are performed in response to instructions sent to various components of the printer device 30 by one or more controllers (not shown).

  Twenty blocks of printable pages are shown to be arranged in the printer device 30. Block 20 is pre-bound by a binding 22 that is bent (shown in FIG. 2B). Initially, when printer device 30 begins to print a booklet, all pages of block 20 are arranged in a single stack 20B. At some point during the printing operation, block 20 is placed in two stacks 20A and 20B. Stacks 20A and 20B are mounted on height-adjustable tables 32A and 32B, respectively. Printing is performed on the printable top surfaces 26A and 26B of the stacks 20A and 20B. The heights of tables 32A and 32B are adjusted so that surfaces 26A and 26B are essentially coplanar. The upper surfaces 26A and 26B are connected by a binding link 28.

  Initially, when the printer device 30 begins to print a booklet, printing can be performed on the printable top surface 26B of only one stack 20B. Alternatively, the page turning operation described below can already be performed on the first sheet, producing two stacks 20A and 20B immediately with printable top surfaces 26A and 26B. The first page is blanked by the start of a printing operation with page turning. Such a page may be intentionally left blank, for example if it serves as an edge paper.

  At some later point during the printing operation, some pages are printed and many remain unprinted. At such time, the page of stack 20B under top surface 26B has not been printed, while the page of stack 20A under top surface 26A has already been printed.

  During printing, the printing bridge 42 and the printing device 40 are moved sequentially to position the print head 41 above various positions on the printable top surfaces 26A and 26B. The print head 41 (shown in FIG. 2B) can print at various locations on the surfaces 26A and 26B on which it is placed.

  During a printing operation, the general direction of operation of the printing bridge 42 is in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2B. The result of the operation shown is that the print head 41 prints on the printable top surface 26B before printing on the printable top surface 26A. Thus, when printing begins on the top surface 26B, the print bridge 42 is located in an initial position near the end of the top surface 26B, which is the end of the binding connection 28. During printing, the direction of movement of the bridge 42 is towards the far end of the top surface 26A, which is the end of the binding connection 28. When printing on top surface 26A is complete, print bridge 42 is located near the end of surface 26A. Prior to returning the printing bridge to its initial position, the tables 32A and 32B are both lowered by a short predetermined distance. The printing bridge 42 is then returned to its initial position near the end of the top surface 26B. The purpose of lowering the tables 32A and 32B before returning the print bridge 42 to its initial position is to prevent the return action of the print bridge 42 from interfering with the top surfaces 26A and 26B. After the print bridge 42 is returned to its initial position, the tables 32A and 32B are raised by a predetermined distance whose distance has already been lowered. Tables 32A and 32B are thus returned to their previous height. At this point, printing bridge 42 and printing device 40 are in a position to print on another pair of printable top surfaces.

  Before resuming printing on the top surfaces 26B and 26A, a new unprinted surface must be opened. The new unprinted surface is opened by lifting the upper page of stack 20B by page lift assembly 50. Lifting the upper page of the stack 20B opens the unprintable upper surface 26B. The lifted page is then flipped by the flip tab 62 on top of the stack 20A, opening the unprinted side of the flipped page. The bounced unprinted side forms a printable top surface 26A of the stack 20A.

  Due to the continuous operation of the print bridge 42, the flip tab 62 continues to raise the upper page 78. At the same time, the printing device 40 (shown in FIG. 1) moves back and forth along the print bridge 42 and the print head 41 (shown in FIG. 1) can print on the printable top surface 26B. The flip tab 62 eventually raises the page 78 by an amount sufficient to be flipped around its end where the page 78 is coupled to the binding connection 28 and is flipped onto the stack 20A. By flipping the page 78 on the stack 20A, the unprinted side of the page 78 is opened. The unprinted side of the page 78 resting on the stack 20A forms a new printable top surface 26A of the stack 20A.

  The continuous operation of the print bridge 42 allows the printable top surface 26B to be printed in all areas printable by the printhead 41. The continuous operation of the print bridge 42 causes the print head 41 to cross the binding connection 28 and print on the newly opened printable top surface 26A. Thus, the single action of the bridge 42 rubbing the entire top surface of the pre-bound stack opens a new unprinted surface and allows printing on the unprinted surface.

  If the distance between the print head 41 and the printable top surface 26B or 26A is greater or less than acceptable, the print quality may be adversely affected. The height of the print head 41 associated with the remaining printer device 30 is fixed. Accordingly, the distance between the print head 41 and the printable upper surface 26B or 26A is determined by the height of the printable upper surface 26B or 26A. The distance between the printable top surface 26A or 26B and the print head 41 is determined by a page height sensor 68 below the print bridge 42.

  By moving the upper page from the stack 20B to the stack 20A, the height of the upper surface 26B of the stack 20B is lowered and the height of the upper surface 26A of the stack 20A is increased. The change in the height of each upper surface is equal to the thickness of one page. According to embodiments of the present invention, the acceptable distance between the print head 41 and the printable top surface 26B or 26A may be greater than the thickness of one page. In this case, after moving one page from the stack 20B to the stack 20A, the height of the upper surfaces 26B and 26A may remain within the allowable range of the surface height. If the height of the top surfaces 26B and 26A remains within the tolerance of the surface height, printing can proceed without adjusting the height of the top surfaces 26B and 26A. However, after movement of the page from stack 20B to stack 20A, page height sensor 68 may indicate that the distance between print head 41 and printable top surface 26B or 26A is greater or less than an acceptable range. there is a possibility. In this case, the height-adjustable tables 32B and 32A adjust the heights of the stacks 20B and 20A, respectively, so that the heights of the printable upper surfaces 26B and 26A are within an allowable range.

  In an embodiment of the present invention, the signal output by the page height sensor 68 is read by the controller at two locations during operation of the bridge 42 across the printable top surfaces 26B and 26A. If the bridge 42 is located near the end of the top surface 26B, which is the end of the binding connection 28, the first position occurs prior to the start of printing on the printable top surface 26B. At this point, the page height sensor 68 is read to indicate the distance between the print head 41 and the printable top surface 26B of the stack 20B. At this point, the page height sensor 68 should indicate that the distance between the print head 41 and the printable top surface 26B is greater than an acceptable range, and the height adjustable table 32B is determined by a predetermined distance. Raise stack 20B. The predetermined distance is determined so as to increase the height of the upper surface 26B within an allowable range of the height of the printable upper surface 26B. In parallel, the table 32A lowers the stack 20A by the same predetermined distance. The operation of the printing bridge 42 in the general direction towards the top surface 26A then continues. During the course of operation of the printing bridge 42, the printing device 40 moves back and forth along the printing bridge 42. The operation of the printing device 40 along the print bridge 42 is perpendicular to the direction of operation of the print bridge 42. The combined operation of the printing bridge 42 and the printing device 40 allows the print head 41 to be positioned at any position on the printable top surface 26B. Therefore, the print head 41 can print on the printable upper surface 26B as necessary.

  According to an embodiment of the invention, the page height sensor 68 is read in a second position during operation of the print bridge 42 on the printable top surfaces 26B and 26A. This second position occurs when the tip of the print bridge 42 intersects the binding connection 28 and the page height sensor contacts the top surface of 26A. At this point, the page height sensor 68 is read to indicate the distance between the print head 41 and the printable top surface 26A of the stack 20A. The page can move from stack 20B to stack 20A, increasing the height of top surface 26A. At this point, the page height sensor 68 should indicate that the distance between the print head 41 and the printable top surface 26A is less than an acceptable range, and the height adjustable table 32A is predetermined. The stack 20A is lowered according to the distance. The predetermined distance is determined so as to lower the height of the upper surface 25A to an allowable range of the height of the upper surface 26A that can be printed. In parallel, the table 32B raises the stack 20B by the same predetermined distance. The movement of the printing bridge 42 and the printing device 40 on the printable top surface 26A then continues. During the operation of the printing bridge 42 and the printing device 40, the print head 41 can print on the printable top surface 26A.

  The process of printing on the printable top surface of a pre-bound stack of pages that opens the unprinted top surface and moves the upper page from one stack to the other to adjust the stack height as needed Will continue until all of the contents of the booklet have been printed.

  Please refer to FIG. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when printing is complete, stack 20A is composed entirely of printed binding pages, and stack 20B is composed entirely of unprinted binding pages. The print bridge 42 is positioned above the upper surface 26A near the end of the upper surface 26A, which is the end of the binding connection 28. The arm extension device 112 expands the arm 110 to its raised state. When raised, the expandable arm 110 holds the end of the wire 114 at a height above the height of the binding connection 28. The remaining wire 114 is located below the binding connection 28.

  Printing device 40 is positioned along printing bridge 42 such that pin 116 is aligned with recess 118 on expandable arm 110. With the pin 116 aligned with the recess 118, the printing bridge 42 moves the pin 116 toward the expandable arm 110. Operation of the printing bridge 42 toward the expandable arm 110 continues until the pin 116 is inserted into the recess 118.

  With the pins 116 inserted in the indentations 118, the printing device 40 moves along the printing bridge 42 and carries the pins 116 away from the expandable arm 110. With the transport of the pin 116 away from the arm 110, the pin 116 pulls the wire 114 upward and pulls against the binding connection 28. The wire 116 cuts the binding connection 28 by the continuous movement of pulling the pin 116 away from the arm 110 and the wire 114. The continuous movement of the printing device 40 towards the end of the printing bridge 42, which is the end of the arm 110, completely cuts the binding connection 28. By cutting the binding connection 28, the printed page stack 20B is separated from the unprinted page stack 20B. After separation of stack 20A from stack 20B, bridge 42 moves away from wire 114 until pin 116 leaves wire 114. The expansion device 112 stores the expandable arm 110 in its folded state. By retracting the expandable arm 110, the entire length of the wire 114 is placed near the bottom of the printer device 30. The placement of the wire 114 near the bottom of the printer device 30 prevents the wire 114 from interfering with the operation of the moving component during further operation of the printer device 30.

  After the printed stack 20A is separated from the unprinted stack 20B, the printed stack 20A can be removed from the printer device 30.

  It is clear that the embodiments described herein and the description of the accompanying figures serve only for purposes of a better understanding of the invention, without limiting its scope.

  After reading this specification, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or amendments may be made to the accompanying figures and the embodiments described above that are still encompassed by the present invention.

Claims (12)

A device for printing on pages of a block of printable pages pre-bound by a binding along the combined edge of each page:
Printing two adjacent stacks such that when a page is turned from the top of the first stack to the adjacent second stack, the two adjacent stacks exhibit essentially coplanar printable top surfaces A block support structure including two height adjustable tables for supporting blocks of possible pages;
A movable bridge suitable for movement in at least one dimension including a printing device and configured to move the printing device in a controlled manner on the printable top surface to print on the printable top surface;
A roller configured to partially lift the upper page of the first stack of bindings and, if the bridge moves, the upper page of the partially lifted binding is printed by the printing device. A page turning mechanism coupled to the movable bridge including a page flip tab that slides under the upper page of the binding partially lifted to flip to the second stack showing a new printable top surface; Including the device. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the page turning mechanism includes an electric motor for moving the roller. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is essentially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the movable bridge. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flip tab is at the tip of the movable bridge. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the block support structure includes a controller and at least one sensor for detecting any of the printable top surface and the height. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to the movable bridge. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to the printing apparatus. The at least one sensor includes at least two detection devices, and one of the at least two detection devices detects whether the height of any of the printable tops exceeds a value within a maximum allowable range. 8. The other of the at least two detection devices is configured to detect whether the height of any of the printable tops exceeds a value within a minimum acceptable range. Equipment. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a separation mechanism for separating between the first and second stacks of pages. The separation mechanism includes a wire and a wire pulling device for pulling the wire between the first and second stacks of pages, so as to separate between the first and second stacks of pages. The apparatus of claim 9. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the wire pulling device is attached to the printing device, whereby the printing device pulls the wire. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising an apparatus for raising and lowering the wire.

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