US3088142A - Bookbinding machine - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1963 s. M. FOTIADES sooxsmnmc MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27, 1959 INVENTOR Smwd BY; c.

ATTORNEY May 7, 1963 s. M. FOTIADES BOOKBINDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2'7, 1959 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,088,142 BOUKBINDING MACHINE Spyros M. Fotiarles, 99 Solouos St., Athens, Greece Filed July 27, 1959, Ser. No. 829,782 1 Ciaim. (Cl. 11-1) This is a continuation-in-part of my application for Automatic Book and Sheet-Binding Machine, filed March 28, 1952, Serial Number 279,238, which issued as Patent Number 2,897,522, on August 4, 1959, and relates to a machine and implements for binding together a stack of leaves or sheets to form a book. More particularly, improved slitting, gluing and leaf bending means are incorporated in a unitary machine.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide means for rapidly binding together a stack of leaves into a book having a strong yet highly flexible back.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for slitting the back edge of a stack of leaves in such a manner as to form tongues which are adapted to interlock the leaves at the back edge.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel means for inserting glue between the loose portions of the adjacent leaves at the back edge of a stack.

The invention aims to glue the back edge of a stack of leaves together by separating the back edge of the leaves, inserting glue or other adhesive therebetween, and bending the edges together thereafter.

The invention further aims to provide a binding for the back edge of a stack of leaves in which overlapping tongues formed in said edge lock the leaves together in such a manner that the back area is relatively flatpnd the leaves of the resultant book may be opened to a rim.

form depth.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for inserting glue under pressure between the back edges of a stack of leaves.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rotary binding implement capable of slitting, bending and gluing the back edges of a stack of leaves in a rapid, effective manner.

Accordingly, in an earlier method glue was applied between each leaf of a stack by bending an unclarnped portion of the stack against a forming device, applying glue, and releasing the unclamped portion. This method had the disadvantage of requiring that each stack be flexed and then exposed to a glue applying cylinder, with the alignment of the thus glued sheets or leaves being dependent on the extending and straightening of the stack after release from said flexing. Further, each leaf was glued flatly against the adjacent leaf whereby the glued back edge became a relatively rigid unit, and each leaf of the resultant book would open only to the point to which glue had entered from the back edge. Thus, to open or turn an end leaf was a relatively simple matter, but to open the book at the center required all the leaves either side thereof to bend at or above the point of entry of the glue since the back was not flexible. Thus, the flexible characteristics of a quality book could not be achieved.

This invention aims to overcome the mentioned drawbacks and to provide a binding for the back edge of a stack of leaves wherein glue is inserted between loose snsauz Patented May 7, 1963 overlapping tongues formed in said edge to permit the leaves to turn about the line formed by the base of said tongues, and the back comprising said tongues to flex readily.

Still another object of the invention is to economically produce a quality book with single leaves as well as signatures in a single continuous process.

Further objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the description given hereinafter. For purposes of illustration and to more clearly describe the invention, reference is made to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially cutaway, of the machine according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a binding implement or blade adapted for mounting in the machine;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the binding table of the machine showing the triangular groove to receive a binding implement such as that illustrated in FIGURE FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view of another form of binding implement and the drive mechanism therefor;

FIGURE 4a is a section of the drive shaft taken at 411 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 5 shows an end plate used to mount half-section elements of the rotary implement in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 shows a different end plate for mounting implement half-sections directly on the square, hollow drive shafts;

FIGURE 7 is a partially broken-away side elevation of the half-section element of the rotary implement which mounts directly on the square, hollow drive shaft, taken in the direction of the arrow 7 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a partially broken-away side elevation of the half section of the rotary implement which is rotatably mounted on the square, hollow drive shaft by means of a cylindrical adapter shaft, taken in the direction of the arrow 8 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side view taken at arrow 9 in FIGURE 4 showing one of the opposed, coacting rotary saws mounted on the square, hollow drive shaft by means of a cylindrical adapter shaft;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary side view taken in the direction of either arrow 10 in FIGURE 4, showing another type of opposed, coacting, rotary saw mounted directly on the square, hollow drive shaft;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary side view taken in the direction of either arrow 11 in FIGURE 4, showing an opposed, coacting, rotary saw similar to that in FIGURE 9, but with the cutting angle of the teeth reversed as illustrated; 7

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary side view taken in the direction of arrow 12 in FIGURE 4 showing an opposed, coacting, rotary saw similar to that in FIGURE 10 but with the cutting angle of the teeth reversed as illustrated;

FIGURE 13 is a cross-section taken at 13-13 in FIGURE 4 showing the separable cylindrical adapter shaft;

FIGURE 14 shows a torn-away portion of the back edge of three adjacent leaves of a stack bound together by means of interlocking tongues formed therein by the implement illustrated in FIGURE 2; and,

FIGURE 15 shows a torn-away portion of the back edge of a stack of leaves bound together by means of overlapping tongues formed therein by the implement illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1, the machine shown is similar, with certain minor changes and omissions, to that illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the mentioned patent. Frame 20 has a bed frame or slideway 22 on which press plate 24 and backing plate 26 reciprocate under suitable, conventional power means (only partly illustrated) which rotate the disk crank 28 bearing the crank pin 29 which in turn is connected to the connecting rod 30. Iournalled within the remote end of the rod 30 is the wrist pin 32 which projects laterally from the base of press plate 24 through slot 34. As the press plate 24 is drawn forward by the connecting rod 30, drag rods 36 which are fixed to the hacking plate 26 enter suitable bores 38 in the plate 24 as it advances against the backing plate 26 to clamp a stack of leaves therebetween.

Suitably mounted in the bed frame 22 are binding implements which may be incorporated in a removable binding table 40 or otherwise conventionally housed within the frame 20. One or more blades 42 illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 may be installed in triangular grooves 44 formed in the binding table 40 as shown in FIGURE 3. The base 46 of the blade 42 has two opposed cutting elements 48 suitably secured thereto and a vertical duct 50 which aligns with suitable vertical duct 52 in the binding table 40 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. A resilient, deflecting element 54 extends upwardly from the base 46 between the blades 48 and passes, together with the blades 42 through the openings 56 in the matrix plates 58 and 60 which cover a respective series of slots (not shown) in the bottom of plates 24 and 26.

As the press assembly including the press plate 24 carries the back edge of a stack of leaves to be bound across the binding table 4t) the leading converging edges 62 of the opposed cutting elements 43 pierce the back edges and thereupon make uniform incisions which form tongues having a narrow base portion proximate the termini of said incisions parallel to the back edge, and a wide portion at the back edge, as illustrated in FIGURE 14. It is apparent that only that portion of the elements 48 extending beyond the base 46- protrude above the table 40, and that the two upper edges of the elements 48 are inclined :toward each other in parallel relationship as illustrated in FIGURE 2. When the blades 42 are installed in position in the binding table 40, a reservoir 64 (FIGURE 1) supplies glue through suitable conduits (not shown) to the vertical ducts 52 (FIGURE 3) and thence to ducts 50 (FIGURE 2) and the upper surface of the base 46.

During the cutting process described, although there is a tendency for the resultant tongues to be deflected in the direction of relative motion of the blades 42 due to cutting pressure and the required thickness of the elements 48. Nevertheless, the edge of each tongue remains relatively proximate the back edge whereupon the glue on the top surface of the base 46 is applied to these edges. As shown in FIGURE 2, the upper surface of the base 46 slopes upwardly toward the rear and acts as a glue applicator with the distance of the duct 50 toward the front determining the effective area of application. Immediately after the cutting and :glue application the tongues are deflected and depressed toward their base by the resilient deflecting element 54 which also serves as a spatula to further spread glue progressively against the tongues. It follows therefore that glue applied by the upper surface of the base 46 against the edges and the portions of the tongues exposed by the cutting is spread by the following portion of this upper surface; and, the bending action of said following portion and the element 54 force glue between the tongues as they are bent and therefore spread along the direction of relative motion of the blades 42.

Another phenomenon of the bending of the tongues is the interlocking of the wide portion of each tongue with the loose edges outlining the area occupied by the relatively narrow portions of the tongues in the adjacent leaves before the displacement thereof by bending. Further, although the leading converging edges 62 may have different heights, it is preferred that they extend the same distance from the table 40 when mounted therein so that the termini of the incisions or cuts made thereby in each leaf are in alignment on a common axis parallel to the back edge of each leaf. Thus, any number of tongues formed in each leaf by one or more similar blades 42 may be bent at said termini about the common axis formed thereby. Further, this common axis created in each leaf is parallel to and lies in the same plane with the similar common axis created in the back edge of every other leaf in the stack. Consequently, this plane is parallel to the resultant flat, back edge of the bound stack. This not only permits each leaf of the book to open to a uniform depth along its intersection with said plane, but establishes an equal opening depth at said plane for all leaves in the book.

It is, therefore, apparent that the binding formed by the glued, interlocking tongues is not only strong, but is relatively flexible as well since the tongues are bent across the back edge of the stack substantially in the mentioned plane in overlapping relationship and thus may more readily flex to permit opening of the stack or book at the unbound edge opposite the back theref. The degree of flexibility would, of course, be affected by the particular type of glue or other adhesive used. Further, the interlocking tongues could effectively bind the stack together even without the use of an adhesive, although this use is preferred.

Referring to FIGURE 4, a second form of binding implement utilizing some of the principles of the first implement (blade 42) is disclosed with the driving apparatus therefor as it would be suitably mounted in the frame 20 of the machine. Pulley 66 is fixed to hollow, drive shaft 68 and is rotated by suitable driving apparatus (not shown) at the required speed and power. That portion of the shaft 68 within the frame 20 at either end of the complete implement, as well as the pulley 66 is round, although the remainder is square as shown in section in FIGURE 4a. For purposes of explanation, it is assumed that thedirection of rotation is clockwise, taken in the direction from left to right as indicated by the circular arrow at the left. Immediately within the frame 20 at either end of the shaft 68 (the right end of which is not shown) is a suitable spacer element 70 which confines a spring 72 which in turn urges the component elements of the binding implement together in cooperating engagement, along the shaft 68.

Briefly, as many sections as desired may comprise the complete implement, although it is preferred that at least three complete sections be included for the reasons given hereinbelow. Mating, rotary wheels or saws driven in opposite directions cut slits in the back of a stack of leaves at spaced positions along the shaft 68, and rotary glue applying elements between said positions are driven in alternately opposite directions to deflect the tongues formed by the slits, to produce a book bound in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 15.

Rotary wheels or saws 74, in FIGURE 4 and also in FIGURE 10, have teeth 76 inclined in the direction of rotation, and are mounted with the square, central aperture 73 onto the square, mating section of the shaft 63 for clockwise rotation therewith. Rotary wheels or saws 80, also illustrated in FIGURE 12, are similar to saws 74 but have teeth 82 inclined in the opposite direction so that when mounted with the square, central aperture 84 on the square, mating section of the shaft 68, they also rotate therewith in the clockwise direction. Rotary wheels or saws 86', also illustrated in FIGURE 11, are provided with a round, central aperture 88 for rotatable mounting onto the separable, cylindrical adapter shaft 99, which in turn is suitably connected about the shaft 68 to rotate clockwise therewith, but permitting counterclockwise rotation of the saws 86. Teeth 92 of saws 86 are inclined in the counter-clockwise direction of rotation. Rotary wheels or saws 94, also illustrated in FIG- URE 9, are similar to saws 86, but have teeth 96 inclined in the opposite direction so that when rotatably mounted with the round, central aperture 98 onto the separable, cylindrical adapter shaft 90, the teeth 96 cut into the counter-clockwise direction of rotation.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 7, rotary, deflecting and glue applying element 100 has a ridged or troughed periphery formed by the gradually sloping ridges 102 and the long, narrow channels or depressions 104, the base of which have openings 106 connecting to the inner cavity 108. The element base 110 also has openings 112 which connect with openings 114 in the shaft 68 through which glue is forced under pressure out onto the surface of the ridges 102, as the element is rotated, for this purpose, a suitable rotatable fitting (not shown) is connected to the left end 116 of the hollow, shaft 68 and therefrom through suitable glue conduits (not shown) to the reservoir 64 (FIGURE 1) or other suitable glue supply under pressure.

FIGURES 4 and 8 show a rotary, deflecting and glue applying element 118 having a ridged or troughed periphery formed by the gradually sloping ridges 120 and long, narrow channels or depressions 122, the base of which have openings 124 connecting to the inner cavity 126. By means of openings 128 in the adapter shaft 90 which connect to openings 114 in the shaft 68, glue is forced onto the surfaces of the ridges 120'.

Although the elements 100 and 118 in FIGURES 7 and 8, respectively, may be solid cast cylinders, it is preferable that they be formed as half sections of cylinders along a plane of the axis thereof, as illustrated, whereby the two sections of element 100 may be fit over the drive shaft 68, and the two sections of element 118 may be fit over the adapter shaft 90. To hold the two half sections of the element 100 together about the shaft 68, the disks 130 shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 are fit over either end of the shaft and secured by screws or other suitable means to each half. A further purpose of the disks 130 is to form the side walls of the long, narrow channels or depressions 104 and thereby create troughs. To hold the two half sections of the element 118 together about the adapter shaft 90, the disks 132 shown in FIG- URES 4 and are fit over either end of the adapter shaft and secured by screws or other suitable means to each half. In a manner similar to that of disks 130, the disks 132 form the side walls of the long, narrow channels or depressions 122, and thereby create troughs.

Referring to FIGURE 4, the element 118 is rotated by the gears 134 which are secured to and driven by the gear drive shaft 136. The pulley 138 fixed to one end of shaft 136 is powered by suitable mechanical means (not shown) and rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed from left to right and indicated by the circular arrow at the left. This causes a counter-clockwise rotation of the element 118 to accomplish the binding as described hereinafter.

Referring to the binding element illustrated in FIG- URE 4, it would be possible, by assembling only the rotary, deflecting and glue applying element 100 thereon with the side wall forming disks 130 over either end of the drive shaft 68 to secure the half sections, as described earlier, to accomplish a binding action across the back edge of a stack of leaves as follows.

As the back edge of a stack of leaves is carried across the implement 100 at a predetermined speed in the direction forward from left to right in FIGURE 1, the ridges 102 travel at a greater speed in the same direction at the tangent established by the point of contact therebetween. For this purpose, suitable openings (not shown) are provided in the matrix plates 58 and 60 to permit the several selected elements of the implement in FIGURE 4 to pass thereth'rough into binding engagement with the back edge of the stack of leaves held therebetween. Further, these elements are of such size, and the shafts 68 and 136 are so mounted either in the frame 20 as illustrated, or in the removable binding table 40 (not illustrated), that the peripheries thereof contact and cross the path of the back edge of the stack of leaves for a predetermined depth of engagement therewith. Consequently, the successive ridges 102 act to separate, glue and then bend forward portions of the back edges of the several leaves comprising the engaged section of the back edge of the stack as it moves forward across the ridges. As the frontmost or top leaf contacts a rotating ridge 102, it is lifted thereby away from the immediately adjacent leaf therebehind, whereupon the following ridge 102 applies glue to the back side thereof. As the stack continues forward another ridge 182 lifts the immediately adjacent leaf and bends it forward against the top leaf, as still another ridge 102 applies glue to the back side of the adjacent leaf. This process is repeated for all of the leaves of the stack, and is facilitated by increasing the speed of motion of the ridges 102 to insure the lifting, gluing and subsequent bending of each leaf in the stack. While it is preferred that the back edge of the stack be slit to facilitate this process, it is nevertheless possibe for a single element to perform the described binding operation on the back edge of a stack of leaves, whereby glue is inserted betwen the leaves at the back edges thereof.

By assembling only the element 118 on the shaft 68, a similar binding action would occur but in this instance, the direction of motion of the ridges would be opposite to that of the stack at said tangent, whereby the frontmost group of leaves would first be depressed to cause separation thereof rather than first being lifted, and, thereafter glue applied thereto by the following ridges 120, and, thereafter be redepressed and bent in the rearwardly direction by still other following ridges 120, whereby glue would be inserted between the leaves at the back edges thereof.

One or more of each of the elements 100 and 118, could be included in the binding implement illustrated in FIGURE 4, although it is preferred that they be alternately incorporated to bind the back edge of a stack in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 15. By adding the mating saws 74, 86 and 80, 94, respectively, to the implement in FIGURE 4, the binding action of the elements 100 and 118 would be facilitated since free rectangular tongues would be formed by the resultant slits in the back edge of the leaves whereupon bending and gluing by the respective ridges 102 and 120 would be more readily accomplished. Further, the resultant tongues would be bound in overlapping relationship as illustrated in FIGURE 15, and the bound book would open about the common axes formed by the termini of the slits, in a similar manner as a book bound by the blades 42, with the same advantages described therefor, earlier. The interlocking provided by the tongues having a narrow portion remote from the back edge of the leaves when using the blades 42 would not of course be present with the implement of FIGURE 4, but would to a degree be accomplished to effect interlocking of the back edge by the interference between the edges of the rectangular tongues and the loose edges outlining the area occupied by the tongues in the adjacent leaves before the bending.

Many alterations and modifications of the structure shown and described will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departure from the essence and spirit of the invention which for that reason shall not be limited except by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a machine for binding together a stack of leaves to form a book, a wheel having a cavity along its periphery, at least one transverse Wall of said cavity extending across 7 said periphery at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, said wheel being secured to a hollow power driven axle having ports therein leading to openings in one wall of said cavity, means to pump glue into said axle whereby as the wheel is brought into engagement with the back edge of said stack, said transverse wall will deflect the leaves at said edge causing :a separation of the leaves whereby glue will be forced into said separation between the loose portions of the adjacent leaves at said edge by centrifugal force and the successive transverse wall contact, means to move said stack of leaves and wheel into and out of engagement with each other, and means to actuate said pump means during the period of engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,009,908 La Fore Nov. 28, 1911 1,658,518 Davis Feb. 7, 1928 1,858,685 Semon May 17, 1932 1,938,959 Grammer Dec. 12, 1933 1,973,375 Frazier Sept. 11, 1934 2,771,852 Iles Nov. 27, 1956

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