Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42B—PERMANENTLY ATTACHING TOGETHER SHEETS, QUIRES OR SIGNATURES OR PERMANENTLY ATTACHING OBJECTS THERETO
  • B42B5/00—Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures otherwise than by stitching
  • B42B5/08—Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures otherwise than by stitching by finger, claw or ring-like elements passing through the sheets, quires or signatures
  • B42B5/10—Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures otherwise than by stitching by finger, claw or ring-like elements passing through the sheets, quires or signatures the elements being of castellated or comb-like form
  • B42B5/103—Devices for assembling the elements with the stack of sheets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and device for manually binding a bundle of sheets.
• bundles of sheets are bound manually in various ways, e.g. by applying an adhesive strip to one edge of the bundle; or inserting a spiral through holes punched beforehand in the sheets; or applying a ring binder formed by folding a plastic strip into a C about one edge of the bundle, inserting a number of teeth, integral with the strip, inside respective holes punched beforehand in the sheets, and looping each tooth through the respective hole.
• plastic spirals and ring binders must first be removed, which is not always an easy job.
• the paper binder is normally comb-shaped, and comprises a strip of paper having an adhesive portion on one face, and a number of teeth equally spaced along its longitudinal edge.
• the bundle is bound by inserting the teeth through the holes in the sheets; folding the strip into a U about and onto the edge of the bundle, so the adhesive portion of the strip at least overlaps the free ends of the teeth projecting from the holes; and sticking the adhesive portion onto the opposite side of the bundle to that in which the teeth are inserted, so as to loop each tooth firmly through the respective hole and secure the strip firmly to the bundle.
• a paper binder of this type is described, for example, in WO 00/40426.
• Binding as descried above is still performed using devices which, though efficient, are extremely complicated mechanically and in design, and therefore fairly expensive to produce and maintain.
• Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the binding device according to the present invention
• Figure 2 shows the Figure 1 device in a different operating configuration
• Figure 3 shows, with parts removed for clarity, a paper binder usable on the Figure 1 device
• Figures 4 to 7 show larger-scale cross sections of a detail in Figure 1 in respective different operating configurations ;
• Figure 8 shows a variation of the Figure 1 binding device
• Figures 9 to 13 show cross sections of the Figure 8 device in respective different operating configurations. ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ " OUT THE INVENTION
• Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a device for manually binding a bundle 2 of rectangular sheets, each having a number of rectangular through holes 3 ( Figures 4-7) equally spaced along a straight long side 4 of bundle 2 and aligned transversely with the corresponding holes 3 in the other sheets.
• device 1 employs a known . binder, which is folded, as described below, about side 4, and is defined, as shown in Figure 3, by a strip 5 made of paper or other flexible material, and comprising a rectangular portion 6, and a number of teeth 7 integral and coplanar with rectangular portion 6 and equally spaced 'comb-fashion' along a straight long edge 8 of rectangular portion 6. Teeth 7 are preferably formed integral with rectangular portion 6, and each have a rounded free end portion 9.
• One face 10 of rectangular portion 6 is coated entirely with a thin coating of adhesive, preferably cold-stick glue, with the exception of a rectangular non-stick area 11, which extends parallel to and along the whole length of edge 8, and defines, on face 10, a first adhesive area 12 extending from non-stick area 11 to edge 8, and a second adhesive area 13 wider than adhesive area 12 and extending from non-stick area 11 to the free edge of rectangular portion 6 opposite edge 8.
• a removable film is normally applied to face 10 to protect adhesive areas 12 and 13.
• rectangular portion 6 On the opposite face to face 10, rectangular portion 6 has a rib extending parallel to edge 8, between adhesive area 12 and non-stick area 11, and defining a fold line 6a (shown by the dash line in Figure 3) on rectangular portion 6.
• device 1 comprises a support 14 in turn comprising a pocket 15 for housing a loose bundle 2.
• Pocket 15 comprises a rectangular inner wall 16; a rectangular outer wall 17 facing inner wall 16; and an end wall 18 crosswise and hinged to inner and outer walls 16 and 17, so pocket 15 can be opened book-fashion by the user to insert bundle 2 easily inside.
• pocket 15 is made of cardboard or plastic
• end wall 18 is formed, e.g. punched, integrally with walls 16 and 17, and connected to them by thin portions of material defining respective virtual hinges.
• end wall 18 is integral with inner wall 16 and only hinged to outer wall 17.
• articulated appendage 16a forms part of support 14, and comprises a rib 20 extending outwards of, parallel to, and along the whole length of edge 19; and a rectangular plate 21, which extends outwards of and parallel to rib 20, and has, on its top surface 22, two rectangular projections 23 aligned parallel to edge 19, and for the purpose explained below.
• Rib 20 is the same thickness as plate 21 and inner wall 16, is located a given distance from inner wall 16, and is connected to inner wall 16 by a band 24 of flexible material on the outer side of inner wall 16.
• Plate 21, in turn, is located a given distance from rib 20 and connected to rib 20 by a band 25 of flexible material on the same side as band 24.
• a wider single band is substituted for bands 24 and 25, to connect rib 20 to both plate 21 and inner wall 16.
• outer wall 17 is fitted with an appendage, which forms part of support 14 and is defined by a flat rectangular wing 26 of the same thickness as outer wall 17 and connected to it by a band 27 of flexible material, so as to rotate 180° onto outer wall 17 (Figure 7) about an axis parallel to the free edge of outer wall 17.
• outer wall 17 is shorter than inner wall 16, and, when wing 26 is coplanar with outer wall 17 and rib 20 is coplanar with inner wall 16, wing 26 overlaps rib 20 and an end portion of inner wall 16, and a free end edge 28 of wing 26 lies in a plane perpendicular to inner wall 16 and through the edge of rib 20 facing plate 21.
• wing 26 has three rectangular slits 29 aligned parallel to edge 28 and substantially contiguous, being separated solely by two thin intermediate partitions.
• two end portions of wing 26 project laterally from pocket 15, and are each fitted rigidly, on the side facing inner wall 16, with a permanent magnet 30 which, when wing 26 is coplanar with outer wall 17, cooperates with a respective metal plate 31 on inner wall 16 to define, with metal plate 31, a releasable retaining device 32 for holding wing 26 against inner wall 16, as described below.
• magnetic retaining device 32 described may be replaced with any other equivalent, e.g. hook-on, system.
• pocket 15 has a stand 33, which forms part of support 14 and is defined by a flat trapezoidal member hinged to the centre of the outer surface of inner wall 16 and movable from an open work position ( Figures 1 and 4), in which stand 33 is perpendicular to inner wall 16 and supports pocket 15 in a raised position resting on end wall 18, and a closed rest position ( Figure 5), in which stand 33 is folded onto inner wall 16.
• Stand 33 is bounded at the top by a straight edge 34 with an elongated central cavity 35, which defines, on edge 34, an edge projection 37, and a projection 36 adjacent to and substantially coplanar with edge 19 of inner wall 16.
• edge 34 supports articulated appendage 16a square with inner wall 16. More specifically, in the open work position, rib 20 rests on projection 36, plate 21 is inserted inside cavity 35, and projection 37 engages a groove 38 on the rear edge of plate 21 to lock stand 33 transversely with respect to inner wall 16 and hold pocket 15 stably in the raised position.
• device 1 comprises a folding device 39 defined by a flat rectangular plate, which is connected to inner wall 16, on the same side as articulated appendage 16a, is located over plate 21, and is bounded, on the side facing inner wall 16, by a straight edge 40 parallel to and facing edge 19. Close to its edge opposite and parallel to edge 40, folding device 39 has two rectangular slots 41 aligned parallel to " edge ' 40 ' and spaced apart like projections 23 on plate 21.
• Folding device 39 is joined to inner wall 16 by a band 42 of flexible material, which, on one side, is applied to inner wall 16, on the opposite side to band 24, and, on the other side, is applied to folding device 39, on the opposite side to that facing plate 21.
• Band 42 therefore extends slidably over rib 2P, and, as shown in Figures 4-7, is wide enough for folding device 39 to rotate, about an axis parallel to edges 40 and 19 and as described in detail below, between an initial rest position ( Figure 4), in which folding device 39 is coplanar with rib 20 and rests on plate 21, with each slot 41 engaged by a respective projection 23, and a final work position (Figure 7), in which folding device 39 is flipped 180° with respect to the initial rest position and is coplanar with outer wall 17.
• pocket 15 already loaded with bundle 2 positioned with its punched portion facing articulated appendage 16a, is in the raised position resting on stand 33, articulated appendage 16a is positioned square with inner wall 16 as described above, and folding device 39 is in the initial rest position.
• the raised, almost vertical position of pocket 15 ensures bundle 2 inside is positioned resting and " neatiy ⁇ " " compacted on end wall 18, and holes 3 are aligned correctly outside pocket 15 and projecting slightly from edge 19 ( Figure 4).
• wing 26 is positioned coplanar with outer wall 17 and facing an end portion 3b, projecting from outer wall 17, of the top sheet 3a in bundle 2, and is pressed against end portion 3b by retaining device 32 to hold end portion 3b firmly against inner wall 16.
• device 1 In this position, device 1 is ready to receive a strip 5, which the user positions on folding device 39 ( Figure 4) with adhesive face 10 facing upwards, and with edge 8 resting on bundle 2, so that teeth 7 extend through holes 3 and slits 29, with respective end portions projecting beyond wing 26.
• the actual binding operation starts from this position, and comprises the following three steps :
• Step 1 Stand 33 is folded back into the closed position, and articulated appendage 16a is rotated 90° with respect to inner wall 16 and positioned, with inner wall 16, resting on a flat support .
• Rotation of articulated appendage 16a folds teeth 7 ninety degrees with respect to rectangular portion 6, and sticks adhesive area 12 to the surface of bundle 2 between holes 3 and side 4.
• pressure may be applied to wing 26 to press the end of bundle 2 against rib 20.
• Folding device 39 being connected integrally to plate 21 by projections 23 engaging slots 41, edge 40 moves upwards towards bundle 2, as articulated appendage 16a rotates, and so forces rectangular portion 6 to move slightly upwards and fold slightly along fold line 6a.
• Step 2 ( Figure 6) : Folding device 39 is rotated -
• Step 3 ( Figure 7) : Wing 26 is flipped 180° onto outer wall 17, and folding device 39 is rotated 90° onto bundle 2, so as to fold rectangular portion 6 directly into a U about side 4, and fold the ends of teeth 7 onto bundle 2 indirectly by means of rectangular portion 6.
• Folding rectangular portion 6 sticks adhesive area 13 to the top sheet in bundle 2, i.e. the sheet facing outer wall 17, thus securing strip 5 to bundle 2 and, at the same time, looping each tooth 7 through respective hole 3 to bind the sheets in bundle 2 firmly to one another .
• Adhesion of rectangular portion 6 to the top sheet in bundle 2 may be strengthened by pressing folding device 39 against bundle 2.
• - End wall 18 is formed integrally with inner wall 16 and hinged to outer wall 17 by a hinge pin 43 parallel to edge 19.
• - Wing 26 is hinged to outer wall 17 by. a hinge pin 44 parallel to pin 43 and edge 19.
• Longitudinal opening 29 is defined by a row of equally spaced openings sized to permit insertion of teeth 7 through wing 26.
• Rib 20 is integral with plate 21, defines with it a rigid appendage 45 (substituting for articulated appendage 16a) , and is hinged to edge 19 of inner wall 16 by a hinge pin 46 parallel to edge 19; rib 20 is substantially contiguous to and the same thickness as inner wall 16; and plate 21 is lower than rib 20 by an amount equal to the thickness of folding device 39, and is connected to rib 20 by a groove 47 parallel to edge 19.
• Stand 33 is hinged to the outer surface of inner wall 16 by a pin 48, which is spaced apart from edge 19 to avoid interfering with appendage 45, and extends parallel to edge 19 to allow stand 33 to rotate between a closed position ( Figure 12), in which stand 33 is inserted inside a cavity formed in the outer surface of inner wall 16, and an open position (Figure 8), in which stand 33 is rotated outwards roughly 45° with respect to inner wall 16.
• Figure 9 when positioned square with inner wall 16 ( Figure 9), appendage 45 is supported, not by stand 33, but by two 45° bevels 49, which extend parallel to edge 19, are radial with respect to pin 46, and are formed on the bottom surface of appendage 45 and the outer surface of inner wall 16 respectively.
• each lever 50 is defined by a bar hinged at one end to pin 46 and having a slot 51 engaged in transversely sliding manner by a pin 52 parallel to edge 19, integral with folding device 39, and projecting laterally from the sides of folding device 39 close to front edge 40.
• each lever 50 is perpendicular to edge 19, parallel to folding device 39, and housed entirely inside a respective seat 53 defined partly by a slot 54 formed through folding device 39, and partly by a recess 55 formed in rib 20 and plate 21.
• each lever 50 remains inside respective seat 53 even when appendage 45 is rotated and positioned coplanar with inner wall 16 (Step 1 described above) .
• the geometry of appendage 45 and folding device 39 is such that, as appendage 45 rotates, folding device 39, as opposed to moving upwards with respect to rib 20, remains rigidly connected to appendage 45, so rectangular portion 6 of strip 5 remains flat on the surface formed by rib 20 and folding device 39. This prevents any uncontrolled movement of folding device 39 with respect to appendage 45 and edge 19 from producing flaws in the fold of strip 5 along fold line 6a.
• folding device 39 is subsequently rotated 90°, and, by rotating levers 50 about pin 46 and inserting them partly inside respective recesses 55, is lowered to insert edge 40 inside groove 47.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

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• 2011
  • 2011-01-26 IT ITTO2011A000068A patent/IT1404260B1/it active
• 2012
  • 2012-01-26 EP EP12707911.9A patent/EP2668045B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2012-01-26 WO PCT/IB2012/050374 patent/WO2012101600A2/en active Application Filing

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