US1676112A - Blank-book-making machine - Google Patents

Description

F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE July 3, 1928.

Filed Feb. 16, 1927 h she Swuewtoz,

F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE w NQN Fild Feb. 16, 1927 July 3, 1928.

July 3, 1928.

F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 16, 1927 VENTOR fiedgb/c R672 2:-

ATTORNEY July 3, .1928.

F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 3, 1928.

BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE wNN R INVENTO fiecZefiz'cZ: Ren

ATTORNEY July 3,1928.

F. RENZ BLANK BOOK MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 R Mk F 7 Wm Om 11% a q} 7 j m :w 7& my L 3 .2a 0 0 5,. J 5 7% J 8 w? L HM Jl/// J mom W ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1928. i 4

UNITED STATES FREDERICK RIJNZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

v BLANK-BOOK-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed February 16, 1927. Serial No. 168,753.

This invention relates to blank book making machines for producing blank books of the school-room type, with a flexible back or cover sewed to the sheets of the book, and a binder strip applied to the cover by a suit able adhesive, centrally and longitudinally thereof to cover the stitches and to reinforce the book cover at that point, so that frequent bending will not cause the wings of the said cover to separate or break apart.

In the manufacture of blank books of the above described type, the sheets are first cut to size and arranged in counted stacks which are separated by the covers of the respective stacks. The size of the stacked sheets may be, for example, sixteen inches wide by thirty inches long, thus making a blank book, when finished by my improved machine, eight inches wide by thirty inches long, which may finally be cut into ten inch lengths making three complete books 8 x 10 inches in size from each stock length, the sizes, of course, vary with the stock used.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a moving support is provided to carry the successive stacks and their covers rearwardly under a suitable sewing device to secure the respective stacks and covers together along the central or median line of the books, after which in the further backward movement of the books, a strip, carrying a wet adhesive, is applied to the covers from below and along the center line over the stitches, after which the line of traveling books are passed through a sealing device to press the strip into intimate contact with the cover. I r

In the further backward movement of the books they are drawn or fed through a crimping or breaking device for imparting a sharp bend to the books along the longitudinal centers thereof at the stitch line, after which the books are passed through a squeezing device which engages the folded edges of the books and applies great pressure thereon to finally set the fold and binding strip so that the free side portions of said books will stay put, after which, the books thus formed may be trimmed and cut to size.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the provision of a blank book making machine having moving carriers for a progressive line of sheet stacks and the employment of a series of progressively operable stations, in-

cluding a sewing station, a stripping and pressing o r sealing station, a crimping or breaking station and a squeezing station, operable in the order named, the operative parts of the various stations being driven from a common source of power and so timed that the travel of the sheet stacks or books through the machine is of uniform speed from the first station to the last.

A feature of the construction is found in mounting some of the'pressure applying elements at the stripping station in a swinging frame to enable the operator to raise the parts so mounted, out of the way, when an inspection is necessary. Another important structural feature of the invention resides in the crimping or breaking means which consists of endless chains having relative uniform movement.

The chains are arranged in vertical registration, and consist of an upper male chain and a lower female chain having links for-med with V shaped grooves, while the upper male chain has links formed with V shaped ribs and by this construction the sheet stacks are given a well defined sharp break or bend.

Other features are present in improved tripping means for operating a cutter for severing the binding strip and stitching threads as the books are entering the squeezing station of the machine, a feeler being provided which bears on the sides of the books as they go past and is drawn or moved slightly inward as each book passes to control said tripping mechanism and cause the cutter to sever the binding strip and threads between the books, there being a space of one to three inches, depending upon the feed at the front of the machine.

A further important feature is the construction and operation of the squeezing device which includes horizontally arranged endless companion chains having block links with smooth inner faces, said chains being, adjustably mounted to accommodate books of various thicknesses.

The invention has for its further objects to provide certain other novel features, all of which will be more clearly defined in the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figs. 1-1"' is a side elevation of the blank book making machine, parts being broken away and parts omitted.

Figs. 22 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial cross section taken about on the line 3'3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear end; elevation of the squeezing device showing a blank book in position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken about on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the cutter operating or controlling clutch and its tripping mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a partial section taken on the line 6-6 of-Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the-line 77 of Fig. 5, showing parts of the clutch tripping mechanism.

Fig. 7 a perspective view of parts of the clutch tripping mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 7, looking in the direction of'the arrow 8 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the cutter control clutch and its tripping mechanism.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross section on the line 1010 of Fig. 1, showing the construction and co-action of the male and female chains of the crimping or breaking device, a book being shown in position.

I Fig. 11 is a central longitudinal section of the cutter control clutch.

Fig. 12 is a cross section on the line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a cross section on the line 1313 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a cross section on the line 1414 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the cutter 'or knife showing its connection with a rotatable disk and also showing its forked free end engaging a supporting guide pin.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged section through the cutter on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a detail section taken on the line 1717 of Fig. 2.

vFig. 18 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 1818 of Fig. 2, showing a blank book in position between the carriers atthe sewing station.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged'detail cross section taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 20 to 23 inclusive show the result of the various progressive operations performed by my machine.

Fig. 24 shows an end edge view of a completed blank book after being trimmed and made ready for the market.

' Fig. 25 is a perspective view showing the form of links employed in the companion chains ofthe squeezing device.

Fig. 26 is a detail side view of the male crimping chain.

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary detail showing how the sewing threads are'held in kerfs or grooves when a cutter operates to sever them.

Referring to the drawings, I provide a frame 1 comprising longitudinal rails 2, cross bars 3, and supporting posts 4. Journalled in suitable brackets 5 at the front of the machine is a power shaft 6, on which are keyed a power sprocket, pulley or gear 7, an eccentric disk 8, and smaller driven sprockets 9 and 10.

Mounted on a suitable base frame 11, extending across the machine and resting on the side rails 2, is a sewing machine head 12, which is operated through a sprocket wheel 13 by a chain 14 geared in connection with the sprocket 9 on the main power shaft 6.

A feed table 15 is supported at the front of the machine, at which the operator stands to feed the counted sheet stacks, with their covers, into the machine. Gages 16, adj ustable laterally to accommodate stacks of various widths, are provided on the feed table to expedite the feeding operation and in this connection the stacks should be left separated an inch or so to permit a cutter, hereinafter described, to pass between them to sever a binding strip and sewing threads connecting them. 7

A counter shaft 17 is mounted in bearings 18 at the front of the machine and extends the entire width thereof. It has a projected end on which a ratchet wheel 19 is mounted and keyed and within the frame. This shaft carries a sprocket 20, a gear 21, (see Fig. 17,) and a pair of carrier belt supporting rolls 22.

The counter shaft is driven in rapid short step movements, and as both main drive chains and the carrier belts take power from this shaft, the entire mechanism is driven at a uniform rapid step movement speed, with the exception of the sewing machine and the cutter control clutch, which are driven by chains operated from the main power shaft which has constant rotation.

The eccentric disk 8, (see best Fig. 1) carries a loose strap 23, which is pivotally connected through an arm 24 to a slide plate 25 guided in a frame 26 which is bolted to a corner post 4 of the main frame 1.

The slide plate 25 carries a pivoted push dog 27 engaging the ratchet wheel 19, and a holding dog 28 for the ratchet, swings from a pin fixed frame 26. The throw of the eccentric 8, should be equal to the distance between the teeth of the ratchet, so that the carrier belts are given step movements equal to the length of the switches made by the sewing machine, thus permitting the sewing needle to rise clear of the sheet stack between the feeding movements of the mechanism.

A pair of main carrier or conveyor belts 29 travel on the rolls 22 of the drive shaft 17 and on another pair of rolls 30 on a free running cross shaft 31 arranged near the longitudinal center of the machine. These belts 29, support and convey the sheet stacks backwardly through the machine in rapid step movements, their lower reaches being passed downwardly through the frame and under rollers 32 which are linked together as at 83 and Weighted as at 34 to hold the belts taut over the bed of the machine.

Mounted to travel and co-act with the belts 29 are short endless feed belts 35, carried on two pairs of rollers 36 and 37 arranged on cross shafts 38 and 39 respectively.

The gear 21 (see Fig. 17,) fixed to the shaft 17, is in mesh with a companion gear 40 rotatable with a sprocket 41 on a short pin shaft 42, said sprocket being connected by a chain 43 to a companion sprocket 44 on the shaft 39 and by this means, said shaft 39 is driven in the direction of the spiral arrow 45 to operate the short endless feed belts 35.

Pivotally connected to a pair of spaced uprights 46, which are bolted to one of the cross bars 3 of the frame 1, is a swingable frame 47 comprising parallel bars 48 connected by bolts or pins 49 to the uprights and carrying at their free ends a. roller 50 revoluble on a cross bolt 51.

The roller 50 supports an endless presser belt 52, which is passed over another roller 53 on the shaft 39 by which said belt. is driven.

Directly under the presser belt 52 is mounted another belt 54, which travels with the said presser belt to convey the blank booksv backward. It is carried on rollers 55 and 56, the former being mounted on a free running shaft 57 and the latter on the'shaft 31 which is driven. through the belts 29.

, Pivoted on one of the side bars of the swinging frame 47, are spring pulled lever arms 58, carrying thrust rollers 59, which bear on the lower reach of the belt 52 to exert constant downward pressure thereon. Directly under the bearing point of the rollers 59. are fixedly mounted thrust absorbing rollers 60 arranged to support the upper reach of the lower belt 54. By employing the above described construction I provide apressing device of sufficient power to effectively seal the binding strip 61 to the covers of the passing books prior to the crimping or breaking operation. "The binding strip 61 is drawn into the machine, by reason of its being pasted to the passing book covers, from a supply roll 62, through a water pan 63 to wet theadhesive provided on one side of the strip, and thence over a direction roller 64 and in under the covers and over the belt 54 with the wet adhesive side uppermost.

Having thus described the mechanism of the stripping and pressing station, I will now proceed to describe the construction an d operation of the mechanism comprising the crimping or breaking station.

Bolted to the side rails 2 of the main frame 1 is a strong bridge frame 65 comprising side posts 66 and a connecting cross bar 67 bolted to their tops. Bearing blocks 68, adjustable in guides 69 are provided to receive a short shaft 7 0 on which a sprocket wheel 71 is keyed.

On an extended end of the shaft is a gear 72 which is in mesh with a. companion gear 73 keyed on a shaft 74 having one of its ends projecting through and beyond one of the side posts to receive a drive sprocket 75 for the upper or male member of the crimping mechanism. The sprocket 75 is operated through a chain 76 by a sprocket 77 fast on a cross shaft 78, which is driven from the sprocket 20 on the step movement drive shaft 17 through a chain 79 geared in connection with a sprocket 80 (see Fig. 2) also on said shaft 78.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a second strong bridge frame 81 bolted to the side rails 2 of the main frame 1 and some distance to the rear of the frame (35. This frame is also formed of side posts 82 and a connecting cross bar 83, on which bearing blocks 84 are carried to receive a cross pin 85, on which a sprocket 86 is mounted.

ill

Hii

The sprockets 71 and 86 are of like size and support a male crimping or breaking chain of novel construction. It comprises an ordinary sprocket chain enclosed in a series of ribbed blocks 88, (see best Fig. 10,) the construction of this male chain 87 being such that the said blocks, when the chain is straight, will have their ends abutting so that no open space will exist between them. They are of equal length and are formed each with a channel 89 leaving spaced side walls 90 and are shaped on the outer side with a V shaped rib 91.

A common sprocket chain is placed in the channel formed by the series of blocks 88 and the connecting pins of said chain 93 are extended through the side walls 90 of the blocks and riveted as clearly shown in Fig. 10, of the drawings.

The lower member of the crimping or breaking mechanism is constituted by an endless female chain 94, carried on sprockets 95 and 96, the former rotating on a cross pin 97, mounted in an adjustable bearing 98, fixed in the frame 1 and the latter being keyed to the shaft 78 from which the said female chain is driven.

The link construction of the fen'iale chain is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 10 of the drawings and may be described as follows :-A common sprocket chain 99 is employed to ride the sprockets and 96, its connecting pins being extended, as in the male chain, and pass through proper holes I (PI;

in strap pieces 100, and riveted on the sides as shown.

The strap pieces are bent at an angle-and are riveted to V shaped female .channel pieces 101, between which and the ribbed blocks 88 of the male chain, the blank books or book stacks 102 are crimped in the operation of the machine.

The bent portions of the strap pieces 100 rest and slide on thrust absorbing rails 103 supported on members 104 which are secured to parallel bars 105 supported by posts 106, rising from cross bars 107 in the frame 1. A central si'ipporting bar 108 is provided under the sprocket chain 99 to absorb some of the downward thrust resulting from the crimping or breaking operation.

As shown in Fig. 1, the female chain 94 moves upwardly, or is inclined toward the male chain so that the crimping pressure is applied gradually on the passing books thus pern'iitting them to become adjusted properly before the greatest pressure is applied. To brace and back up the male chain alon the lower reach thereof, to )revcnt buckling or breakage, I employ a solid frame 109 comprlsing parallel side bars 110 supported at their ends, on the cross pins and .85 of the sprockets 71 and 86. Between these side bars, I place a third bar 111 which bears directly on the sprocket chain-93 in the channels of the blocks 88.

A cutter or knife 112 is pivotally connected at one end to an operating disk 113, its other or free end being forked, providing a slot 114 in which a fixed pin 115 is received. The slot extends inwardly from the end in a straight horizontal line as at 116, and then upwardly and inwardly as at 117 to form a cam portion to lift the free end of the knife as it is drawn across the line of travel of the books by the rotation of its operating disk 113 when severing the binding strip and sewing threads extending between the books. (See Fig. 6.)

This cutting operation must be accurately timed and quickly executed as the books movev rapidly through the machine. I accomplish the above results automatically, by employing a tripping mechanism, controlled by the passing books, and a one revolution clutch controlled by the said tripping mech anism which I will now proceed todescribe.

A bracket 118 is bolted to an extension of the cross bar 83 of the frame 81, and is formed with an inwardly directed arm 119, a depending arm 120, and side extensions 121 and 122. The end of the arm 119 is formed with a vertical bearing 123 to receive a shaft 124, carrying a feeler or finger 125. Attached to the shaft 124 at the top, above the-arm 119, is an arm 127 whose hub rests on the arm 119.

The finger 125 keyed to the shaft 124 extends through an opening 128 formed in a sheet metal sideguide 129 for the wings of the books, and'is urged against one side of the books as they pass, by'a pull spring 130 connected atone end to the arm 127 and anchored to the guide 129 at its other end as shown in Fig. 7. As each book passes the finger 125, it will ride off the rear end thereof and snap inwardlyagainst a stop and guide finger or plate 131 mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft 132 supported at the top from the cross bar 83 of the cross frame 81.

The inward movement of the finger 125 caused by the, pull of the spring 130 turns the shaft 124, thus causing the arm 127 to move inwardly, drawing a connected link 133 with it. This link is connected with a hook portion 134 of a rocking tripper 135 which, through said link is tilted upward on its pivot. that is, the free end of the tripper is tilted upward and since the tip end of the tripper is normally under the free end of a trip arm 136 it will raise it a short distance and release the clutch controlling the cutter, and cause it to sever the binding strip as will later appear.

To provide for re-setting theparts quickly between the tripping operations, the trip arm 136 is made in two parts connected by an elbow joint 137 which breaks outwardly, said parts being, held in alignment by a thin leaf spring 138.

In the automatic operation of re-setting the parts of the tripping mechanism, the next oncoming book strikes and forces out the finger 125, from its inward tripped position, which outward movement turns the shaft 124 inthe opposite direction, or to the right when viewed from above, and throws the arm 127 also to the right thus pushing the link over to force the free end of the tripper 135 down to its normal operative position, as in F ig; 7

The free end of the trip arm 136 normally lies in the swinging path of the tripper end, which forces it. outward as it passes, but snaps back again over thesaid tripper end and the parts are re-set. At the passing of another book past the finger 125, the above operations are repeated.

To release the cutter operating clutch, which will be hereinafter described, the trip arm 136is provided with a shoulder 139, against which the free end or nose of a shift lever 140 is held by a pull spring 141, which is attached at one end to a tail piece 142 of the said lever and at its other end to the extension 1220f the bracket 118.

The shift lever 140 is pivoted as at 143 to the depending arm 120 of the bracket 118, and has pivotal connection with one endof a shift link 144, it being adjustably connected at its other end to an upright oscillatory lever or shift arm 146, as at 145, said shift arm being pivotally supported on a fixed standard bearing 147 and having its lower end connected by a pivot pin to a slide bar 148 operating in suitable guides.

The slide bar 148 is turned up at its rear end 13) to provide abearing for a roller 149, said slide bar also carries a vertical stop pin 150 which normally is positioned to engage a projecting pin 151 on a cam sleeve 152 of the cutter controlling clutch G.

The construction of this single revolution clutch C is best shown in Figs. 11 to 13 inclusive. It comprises a normally stationary horizontally arranged shaft 153 journalled in post bearings 154 and has keyed thereto the above mentioned cam sleeve 152 which cartened portion 158 of the shaft, see Fig. 12.

The sleeve 152 is formed with a face cam 159 which operates to engage the roller 149 and draw the slide bar back to its normal position to bring the stop pin 150 again under the pin 151 to stop the rotation of the clutch after the tripping operation.

A sprocket 160 is formed with, or mounted on a hub 161 freely mounted on the reduced portion 155 of the cam sleeve and is constantly driven, when the machine is in operation, by a chain 162 riding on a companion sprocket 163 carried on a cross shaft 164. This shaft is extended beyond the side frame and carries another sprocket 165 which is driven through a chain 166 from the sprocket 10 on the main power shaft 6 of the machine, see Fig. 2.

In the outer end of the cam sleeve 152, is a circular groove or channel 167 in which a slightly compressed spiral spring 168 is positioned between a pin 169 fixed in the cam sleeve and a pin 170 in the shaft 153.

Keyed on the outer end of the clutch shaft 153, is a circular head 171 having a flat face 172 which normally rests on the head of a plunger 173, urged upwardly by a stout spring 174 whose thrusting power must be sufficient to overcome the thrust of the spiral spring 168 in the circular groove 167.

The object of this construction is to impart a short quick rotary movement to the cam sleeve 152 at the moment the holding pin 150 is moved clear of the pin 151. This short movement serves to jam the clutch roller 157 resulting in a quick positive pick up of the cam sleeve with no lost motion.

To accomplish the above described jamming action of the clutch roller, the head 171 is circumferentially positioned on the clutch shaft so that the flat face 172 is not quite flat on the head of the plunger 173 when the pin 151 strikes the holding pin 150 to stop the rotation of the cam sleeve, but the strength ofthe spring 174, under the head of the plunger 173, snaps the circular head and further compressing the spring 168, so

that when the stop pin 150 is drawn out from under the pin 151 by the tripping mechanism, through the slide bar 148, the said sleeve will be given a slight rotative movement by the push of the said spring 168 against the pin 169, the extent of this movement being the distance between the pins 169 and 170.

The shaft 153 is extended beyond the inner bearing post 154, and on this extension I fix a bevel gear 175, whichco-acts wlth a companion gear 176, to drive a shaft 177, on which the cutter operating disk 113 1s keyed, said shaft being supported in a suitable bearing 178.

The slide 148 may have a spring connection 17 9,'to maintain it in the normal inoperative position with the stop pm 150 under the contacting pin 151.

Mounted on the outer end of the cross shaft 78, journalled in the frame 81, is a sprocket 180 which serves to drive another sprocket 181 through a chain 182 to impart rotation to a cross shaft 183 journalled in hanger bearings 184 at the rear end of the machine.

Keyed to this last mentioned shaft is a bevel gear 185 which co-acts with a larger bevel gear 186 to drive a vertically arranged shaft 187, which, through intermeshed companion gears 188, drives an opposite parallel shaft 189.

These shafts 187, 189, also carry coinpanion sprockets 190, on which a pair of endless squeezing chains are carried and from which they are driven.

The last mentioned parallel squeezing chain drive shafts are mounted to rotate in vertically aligned bearings 192 and 193, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The entir squeezing mechanism is preferably mounted on parallel, longitudinally arranged base plates 194, supported on cross bars of the frame 1. Bolted to these base plates at the forward ends thereof, are bearings 195, in which rotate vertical shafts 196 carrying companion sprockets 197.

Arranged in a substantially central position on the said base plates 194 are a pair of oppositely aligned thrust bearings 198 and 199 in which rotatable shafts 200 oper ate, said shafts having companion sprockets 201 keyed thereto.

The bearing 198, is slidably mounted and is adjusted through the instrumentality of a set screw 204, threaded through a bar 205, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The opposite bearing 199, is also slidably by a 'tensionally controlled shoe or head 206 formed with an outwardly extending arm 207 connected by a strong pull spring 208 to a pivoted bar 209, resting against a stop pin 210, which may be placed in one of a series of holes 211 to adjust the spring tension.

It will be understood that when books of various sizes are to be made, the thrust bearings may be expeditiously adjusted to meet the necessary requirements.

The construction of the squeezing chains is clearly shown in Fig. 25 of the drawings, each comprising a common sprocket chain 212 and abutting block links 213 having smooth pressing or squeezing faces 214 and rear channels 215 providing spaced side walls 216 which are drilled to receive extended pivot pins 217 of the sprocket chain which is. received in the channels of the block links.

The squeezing chains 191-converge from the sprockets 197 to the sprockets 210where they normally are in contact and are backed or supported against lateral thrusts by fixed bars-218, adjustably secured to cross bars of the frame, by screws 219.

The stock blank books made by this ma chine are always of a length to more than span the distance between the ends of the breaking or crimping chains, and the pressure applying point of the squeezing chains, so that the leading ends of the successive books are gripped between them before the trailing ends of said books move out of engagement with the crimping chains, thus assuring a constant feed and satisfactory production.

i To assist in guiding the books as they pass into. the squeezing mechanism and to prevent side bending when the cutter operates, I provide a vertically arranged guide plate 220, having pivotal connection with vertical supporting hangers 221 secured at the top by slot and bolt connections 222 toa bent down portion of a shelf plate 223, bolted to the cross bar 83 of the bridge frame 81 and the rear end of this shelf plate is supported by a brace bar-224, which may be bolted to one'of the bearings 195 (see Fig. l

' The guide plate 220, has a cross sectional V shaped lower edge 225 in which a slot 226 is formed to receive the cutter 112 in its operative movements, and at opposite sides of the mouth of the slot, grooves or kerfs 227 are cut to receive and hold the sewing threads 228 against 'sidewise movement when the cut is made, see Fig. 27.

'Associated with the guide plate 220 is a cross sectionally V shaped book supporting tongue or trough corresponding in shape to the lower edge of said plate (see Fig. 19).

This tongue or trough 229, being rigidly supported on a cross bar of frame 1.

The slot and bolt connections 222 of the guide plate hangers 221 and their pivotal connection to said plate are provided to per mit either end of th plate to be raised or lowered as required.

It will, of course, be understood that the proportions of th books shown in Figs. 21 to 24 inclusive, are not accurate, these step operation views being illustrative only, no relative proportions being attempted.

What I claim is 1 l. The combination with a carrier for the book stacks and their covers, of a sewing device, means for holding the wings of the books in a flat condition when passing said device, means for applying a wet adhesive binding strip to the underside of the covers along the median line thereof, yielding presser means to seal the binding strip to the cover, a crimping'mechanism comprising vertically aligned chains to engage and bend the books along the center line, a cutter for severing the binding strip and sewing threads, trip mechanism for the cutter c011- trolled by the passing books, squeezing mechanism including companion chains to engage and set the folded edges of the books and means-for imparting rapid step feed movements to the conveying parts.

2. The combination with a carrier for the book stacks and their covers, of a sewing device, parallel endless belts normally contacting with said carrier and traveling therewith to hold the books flat when the stitches are made, a stripping device to apply an adhesive strip to the back of the moving books, means, including a swingable frame and pivoted arms carrying rollers, for sealing the strips to the books, mechanism including male and female chains for crimping'the books, mechanism for squeezing the hinged edges thereof and driving means for the parts.

3. The combination with a carrier for the book stacks and their covers, of a sewer, devices for holding the books flat when passing the sewer, means for applying a stripto the passing stacks, presser'belts for sealing the strip in position, crimping mechanism, including respective grooved and ribbed coacting chains, a cutter-operating across the line of travel of the stacks and between the same, squeezing mechanism, including companion chains, to set the central fold of the books and means for driving the parts in rapid step movements.

1. The combination with a carrier for the book stacks and their covers, of a sewing device,'belts operating at opposite sides of the stitch line made by said device, means for applying a strip to the books as they pass, a presser device comprising normally contacting endless belts arranged one over the other, a vertically swingable frame, spring pulled arms, and rollers thereon, mechanism for bending the books, means for cutting the said strip and stitch threads, means, including companion chains, for setting the fold of said books and means for driving the parts set forth from a common source of power.

5. In a blank book making machine, a carrier for the books and their covers, a sewer arranged to stitch the stacks along the central longitudinal line thereof, means for conveying the stacks past the sewer in a flattened out position, means for stripping the books as they pass, a swingable device for sealing the strip in place, a crimping mechanism comprising male and female breaking chains to form a sharp bend at the median line of the passing books, a cutter to sever the strip and sewing threads, a squeezing mechanism for setting the folded edge of the passing books and means for driving the book making parts in rapid step movements, said squeezing mechanism comprising divergent companion chains.

6. In a blank book making machine, means for sealing the binding strip to the covers of the passing books, said means comprising a lower moving belt and a normally contacting upper belt, a swing-able frame, arms pivoted thereon, rollers carried on said pivoted arms arranged to ride on the lower reach of the upper belt and other rollers in vertical alignment with the upper ones and bearing on the under face of the upper reach of the lowerbelt to take the pressure thrusts, in combination with chain mechanism for crimping the books, a cutter device, a squeezing chain mechanism, and means for feeding said books through the machine.

7. The combination with a carrier for the book stacks and their covers, of a sewing device, means for stripping the books as they pass, a presser device, including a belt and roller carrying swingable frame, to seal the strip to the moving books, means including chains for crimping the books while passing, means for setting the folded edges of the said moving books and means for driving the parts, said setting means comprising companion chains operating in a. horizontal plane, and means for driving the parts.

8. In a blank book making machine, the combination with a moving carrier for the book stacks and the covers therefor, a sewing device, means for applying a strip to the books as they pass, a device, including a swingable frame, an endless belt and rollers thereon for exerting yielding pressure over the strip to seal the same while the books pass backwardly, a crimping device comprising male and female vertically aligned chains the links of which are formed with inter-co-acting ribs on the male, and grooves on the female, squeezing mechanism, comprising chains, to finally set the fold of he books as they pass and means for imparting rapid step movements to parts of the machine.

9. In a blank book making machine, means for sealing binding strips to the covers as the books pass, said means comprisa series of fixedly mounted bed rollers, a belt having its upper reach resting thereon, another belt resting on and movable with the bed belt, said upper belt being driven from a fixedly mounted roller, a pivoted frame, a roller c rried on the free end of th frame to support said upper belt, levers pivoted on said frame, rollers on the lower ends of the levers and pull springs attached to the upper ends thereof to urge said rollers in pressing contact with the lower reach of the upper belt, in combination with a sewing device, crimping means, a cutter, a squeezing device comprising companion chains, and means for feeding the books through the machine.

10. In a blank book making machine, means for setting the folded edge of the in coming books, saidmeans comprising op posite, companion squeezing chains having smooth faced block links, said chains being so arranged. on their carrying and driving sprockets. that they are caused to converge iackwardly to their contacting point, to form a guiding mouth for the books, after which the chains diverge to form a free delivery space for the finished books.

11. In a book making machine of the character described, a frame comprising a longitudinal side rail and corner post structure and a forward and rear bridge frame each having side supports and connecting cross bars, a moving carrier extending rearwardly under and beyond the forward bridge frame and comprising spaced companion belts, a pair of superposed presser belts disposed between said carrier belts and traveling therewith, male and female coacting crimping and conveying sprocket chains operating between the bridge frames, a cutter arranged back of the rear bridge frame, and a pair of endless smooth faced squeezing chains operating in a horizontal plane arranged back of said cutter, said belts and chains being operated in rapid step movements and for the purpose described.

12, In a book making machine, means for guid'Zng the books between the crimping and squeezing mechanisms, said means comprising a vertically disposed plate having", pivotal connection with parallel suspension bars, adjustably connected to a supporting member bolted to the cross bar of the rear bridge frame, said plate being provided with a slot in which a cutter operates, the of the mouth of the said slot being cut to form grooves to receive and hold the sewing threads against side movement during the severing operation.

13; In a blank book making machine, means for crimping the passing books along the median line thereof, said means comprising a horizontally arranged male chain composed of a common sprocket chain and aseries of abutting ribbed blocks carried on extended pivot pins of the sprocket chain, a female chain composed of a common sprocket chain and a series of normally abutting groove plates supported on extended pins of said sprocket chain, and means for driving the parts, said female chain slanting upwardly from its forward bearing to form guiding entrance for the incoming books.

14. In a book making machine having means for feeding a continuous procession of books therethrough, mechanism for crimping the moving books at the central iold line, consisting of upper and lower endless, flexible co-acting devices and rotary members for supporting them, a cutter, squeezing mechanism consisting of endless, flexible companion devices operating in opposed relation and rotary members for sup porting them, and means for driving the said rotary members.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 10th day of February, 1927.

FREDERICK RENZ.

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