US3283351A

US3283351A - Apparatus and method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the lik

Info

Publication number: US3283351A
Authority: US
Inventors: Muller Hans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-02-21
Filing date: 1965-02-16
Publication date: 1966-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-08
Also published as: GB1035081A; DE1436069A1; CH412798A

Description

1965 H MULLER 3,283,351

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THREADLESS BINDING OF BOOKS, BOOKLETS, PAMPHLETS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 8, 1966 H MULLER 3,283,351

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THREADLESS BINDING OF BOOKS, BOOKLETS, PAMPHLEIS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1965 FIGA j- 40 CONTROL UNIT.

l l I L...

United States Patent 3,283,351 APPARATUS AND lVIETHOD FOR TI-IREADLESS BINDING OF BOOKS, BOOKLETS, PAMPHLETS AND THE LIKE Hans Miiller, Buschgutweg 4, Zofingen, Switzerland Filed Feb. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 433,026 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Feb. 21, 1964, 2,236/ 64 13 Claims. (Cl. 11-1) The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to clamping and control apparatus and method in apparatus for the threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like.

In known arrangements for threadless bindings of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like it is necessary to hold the end sheets at a work station separate from that holding the printed sheets during the cutting or trimming of the back edges of the printed sheets in order to avoid cutting or trimming the end sheets.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a method for threadl'ess binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like which apparatus and method are simplified and involve a lesser number of steps than known arrangements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like which retains the printed sheets and the end sheets at one place or work station during the cutting or trimming of the back edges of the printed sheets without cutting or trimming the end sheets.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like for cutting the back edges of the printed sheets with efficiency, reliability and effectiveness.

Books, booklets, pamphlets or the like of the type bound by the apparatus and method of the present invention have a plurality of printed sheets and end sheets parallel to the printed sheets and on both sides thereof, all of the sheets having front and back edges, but with the back edges of all the sheets positioned coplanarly while the front edges of the end sheets extend farther from the back edges thereof than do the front edges of the printed sheets from the back edges thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the printed sheets and end sheets are clamped in a compact initial pile with the front and back edges initially lying in spaced substantially parallel planes with the back edges of the sheets positioned at a first determined height relative to a reference plane and the pile of printed and end sheets are unclamped and dropped with the back edges of the printed sheets positioned at a second determined height relative to the reference plane lower than the first determined height by a predetermined distance while simultaneously maintaining the end sheets of the pile of printed and end sheets with the back edges of the end sheets positioned at the first determined height and subsequently reclamping the pile of printed and end sheets with the back edges of the printed sheets at the second predetermined height and with the back edges of the end sheets at the first predetermined height to permit cutting the printed sheets in a plane parallel to the plane of the back edges thereof at the first determined height without cutting the end sheets.

In order that the present invention may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic presentation, partly in section, of an embodiment of clamping members and a control unit of the apparatus of the present invention.

In the figures, the same components are identified by the same reference numerals.

The apparatus of the present invention is utilized to bind books, booklets, pamphlets and the like so that a plurality of printed sheets are positioned in the book and the like with end sheets parallel to the printed sheets and on both sides thereof. The end sheets have no printed matter on them usually. All of the sheets, printed and end, have front and back edges. The back edges of all the sheets are positioned coplanarly while the front edges of the end sheets extend farther from the back edges of the sheets than do the front edges of the printed sheets from the back edges of the sheets. The book cover is glued to the back edges of the sheets and has end plates parallel to and adjacent the end sheets.

A plurality of work stations is provided for the apparatus of the present invention to enable the performance of various operations on the printed and end sheets to bind them into a book, booklet, pamphlet or the like. The work stations include a first work station A, and a plurality of succeeding work stations B, C, D and so on. The printed sheets 1 and the end sheets 10 are positioned at the first work station A. The printed sheets 1 and the end sheets 10 are cut or trimmed at the next succeeding work station B. The printed and end sheets are repositioned at the next succeeding work station C. Glue is applied to the back edges of the printed sheets 1 and the end sheets 10 at the next succeeding work station D. Other operations, such as aflixing the cover to the pile of printed and end sheets, are performed at the succeed.

ing stations.

Clamping

apparatus

2, 2, and control apparatus 40 are provided to position and guide the printed and end sheets through the various stages of the apparatus of the present invention. The clamping apparatus functions to clamp the printed sheets 1 and end sheets 10 to a compact initial pile with the front and back edges initially lying in spaced substantially

parallel planes

41 and 42, respectively. The back edges of the sheets are positioned at the bottom in the plane 42, for ease of operations on the sheets, whereas in actuality the back edges are those which appear at the back of the covered book and are covered by the cover of the book; the back edges being the portions of the printed and end sheets which are bound together and into the cover of the completed and covered book.

The back edges of the sheets are positioned at a first determined height, coplanar with the plane 42, relative to a reference plane such as, for example, the plane 43 of the surface supporting the apparatus of the present invention. The clamping apparatus comprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced

clamping members

2, 2. At least one aperture 20 is formed through each clamping member 2. Of course, any suitable number of apertures 20 may be formed through each clamping member 2 in any suitable pattern or arrangement.

The control apparatus functions to unclamp and drop the printed sheets of the pile of printed and end sheets with the back edges of the printed sheets positioned at a second determined height, coplanar with the plane 50, relative to the reference plane 43 lower than the first deter- Y mined height by a distance to be cut off each of the printed sheets at its back edge while simulaneously maintaining the end sheets of the pile of printed and end sheets substantially parallel to the printed sheets with the back edges of the end sheets positioned at the first determined height and to subsequently reclamp the pile of printed and end sheets with the back edges of the printed sheets at the second determined height and with the back edges of the end sheets at the first determined height.

The control apparatus comprises a mover 44 for tightening the clamping members 2 or moving them closer together to clamp and reclamp the sheets between said members. The mover 44 may comprise any suitable means such as, for example, a prime mover or motor, suitably aflixed to the clamping members 2 such as, for example, by a

structure

45, 45. When the clamping members 2 are in clamping or reclamping position they are a predetermined distance 46 apart. FIG. 2 shows the clamping members 2 in clamping position and FIG. 3 shows said members in reclamping position.

The mover .44 also functions to loosen the clamping members 2 to unclamping position in which said clamping members are moved apart to a distance from each other greater than the predetermined distance 46. The control apparatus or unit 40 further comprises any suitable apparatus or arrangement for providing suction to the end sheets 10. Thus, for example, a pump 47 may be coupled to the apertures 20 of the clamping members 2 by air-conducting

conduits

48, 48. When the pump 47 is operated, it draws air through the

conduits

48, 48. and the

apertures

20, 20 in directions away from each of the

end sheets

10, 10 thereby hOlding each end sheet to its corresponding clamping member 2 by suction.

At the first work station A, the pile of printed and end sheets in clamped unbound condition is held between the clamping members 2 and moved over a work surface 3 by any suitable moving or guiding arrangement such as, for example, an overhead conveyor or track system. The first work station A has two

work surfaces

31 and 32 dset from each other by the predetermined distance equal to the amount to be cut off each of the printed sheets at its back edge, the work surface 31 being coplanar with the plane 42 at the first determined height and the work surface 32 being coplanar with the plane sea: the second determined height relative to the reference plane 43.

When the pile of printed and end sheets is positioned over the work surface 32, the control unit 40 unclamps said sheets by operation of the mover 44 and operates the pump 47 to draw air away from the end sheets to create suction at said end sheets, so that the printed sheets 1 drop to the second determined height 50 on the work surface 32 but the end sheets remain in position against the corresponding clamping members 2.due to the suction effect. The back edges of the printed sheets 1 are thus lowered to the second determined height whereas the back edges of the end sheets remain at the first determined height.

When the operation of unclamping and dropping is completed at the first work station A, the control 40 operates its mover 44 to reclamp the pile of printed and end sheets in their new position with the back edges of the end sheets at the first determined height 42 and with the back edges of the printed sheets at the second determined height 50. The moving apparatus such as, for example, a conveyor, then moves the reclamped pile of printed and end sheets to the next succeeding work station B. After the pile of sheets is reclamped, the pump 47. is made inoperative to discontinue the suction on the end sheets since such end sheets are then again held in position by the pressure of the clamping members 2.

At the work station B, cutting apparatus 4 cuts the printed sheets in the plane 42 of the back edges of the end sheets 10 without cutting the end sheets. The printed sheets 1 are cut substantially parallel to the plane of the back edges of said printed sheets and at the first determined height 31. Thus, the back edges of the printed 4 and end sheets of the pile, after cutting, lie in a plane at the first determined height 31 while the front edges of the end sheets 10 lie in their initial plane 41 and the front edges of the printed sheetsl lie in a plane 51 substantially parallel to the plane .42 of the back edges of the printed and end sheets and lower than their initial plane 41 by the amount cut off each of the printed sheets. The conveyor system then moves the pile of printed sheets and end sheets to the next succeeding work station C, where they are again unclamped and lowered to a work surface 5 and then are again reclamped. The con end sheets, and at a work station next succeeding the next.

succeeding work station, a suitable cover may be affixed over the gauze back.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for threadless binding of books, booklets pamphlets and the like having printed sheets and folded end sheets parallel to said parrallel to said printed sheets and on both sildes thereof, all of said sheets having front and back edges,

clamping means clamping said printed sheets'and said folded end sheets in a compact pile with the back edges of said sheets positioned at a first determined height relative to a reference plane;

control means for releasing said clamping means to enable dropping of said printed sheets of said pile so that the back edges of said printed sheets are positioned at -a second determined height which relative to said reference plane is lower than said first determined height by a predetermined distance while simultaneously maintaining the folded end sheets of said pile substantially parallel to said printed sheets with the folded edges ofsaid end sheets remaining positioned at said first determined height and subsequently reclam ping said pile of printed sheets and folded end sheets while maintaining the back edges of said printed sheets at said second determined height and folded back edges of said end sheets at said first de termined height so that a portion of said printed sheets projects beyond said back edges of said end sheets; and cutting means for cutting off the projecting portion of said printed sheets while maintaining intact said folded back edges of said folded end sheets.

2. .An apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising means oper-atively connected with said control means for maintaining the folds of said end sheets intact, said end sheets being substantially coextensive with said printed sheets on reclamping of said pile; and wherein said clamping means comprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced clamping member and the back edges of said printed sheets positioned at a second determined height relative to said reference plane lower than said first determined height. by a predetermined distance while simultaneously maintaining the end sheets of said pile of printed and end sheets substantially parallel to said printed sheets with the back edges of said end sheets positioned at said first determined height and subsequently reclamping said pile of printed andend sheets with the back edges of said printed sheets at said second detennined height and with the back edges of said end sheets at said control means comprises mover means for moving said clamping members closer together to clamping 'and reclamping position in which the said clamping members are a predetermined distance apart and for moving said clamping members farther apart to unclamping position in which the said clamping members are a distance apart greater than said predetermined distance.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, and further comprising suction mean-s cooperating with each of said clamping members for selectively holding each of said folded end sheets to its corresponding clamping member by suction.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said suction means comprises means for selectively drawing air through apertures formed through the respective clamping members away from each of said folded end sheets thereby to hold each folded sheet against its adjaoent clamping member.

5. Apparatus for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like having printed sheets and folded -end sheets parallel to said printed sheets and on both sides thereof, all of said sheets having front and back edges, comprising a first work station and a plurality of succeeding work stations;

clamping means clamping said printed sheets and folded end sheets in :a campact pile with the back edges of said sheets positioned at a first determined height relative to a reference plane;

control means for releasing said clamping means to enable droppingof said printed sheets of said pile so that the back edges of said printed sheets are positioned at a second determined height which rellative to said reference plane is lower than said first determined height by a predetermined distance while simultaneously maintaining the folded end sheets of said pile substantially parallel to said printed sheets with the folded back edges of said end sheets remaining positioned :at said first determined height, and subsequently reclamping said pile of printed and folded end sheets while maintaining the back edges of said printed sheets at said second determined height and the folded back edges of said end sheets at said first determined height;

cut-ting means at .a succeeding work station for cutting said printed sheets in the plane of the back edges of said end sheets substantially parallel to the plane of the back edges of said printed sheets and at said first determined height so that the centerfold of said end sheets remains intact and the back edges of the printed and end sheets of said pile lie in a plane at said first determined height while the front edges of said end sheets lie in their initial plane and the front edges of the printed sheets lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the back edges of the printed and end sheets and lower than their initial plane by the amount out off each of said printed sheets; and

conveyor means for moving said clamped pile of printed and end sheets through said first work station, for moving the reclamped pile of printed and end sheets to said succeeding work station, and for moving said reclamped pile of sheets to further succeeding work stations.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said end sheets each consist of 'a single piece of center-folded material, wherein said control means maintains the centerfolds of said end sheets intact, wherein said end sheets are substantially coextensive with said printed sheets on reclamping of said pile, and wherein said clamping means comprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced clamping members, and said control means comprises mover means for moving said clamping members closer together to clamping and reclamping position in which the said clamping members are a predetermined distance apart and for moving said clamping members farther apart to unclamping position in which the said clamping members are a distance apart greater than said predetermined distance.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6; and further comprising suction means cooperating with each of said clamping members for selectively holding each of said folded end sheets in its corresponding clamping member by suction.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said suction means comprises means for selectively drawing air through apertures formed through the respective clamping members away from each of said folded end sheets thereby to hold each folded end sheet against its adjacent clamping member.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8; and further comprising release means releasing said folded end sheets for movement with respect to said printed sheets so that the back edges of said folded end sheets lie in a cornmon plane with the back edges of said printed sheets;

gluing means at a next succeeding work station for applying glue to the back edges of said printed sheets and said folded end sheets;

and binding means at a work station succeeding the next succeeding work station for applying a cover to the back edges of said printed and end sheets.

10. A method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like having printed sheets and folded end sheets parallel to said printed sheets and on both sides thereof, all of said sheets having front and back edges and said end sheets each consisting of a single piece of center-folded material, comprising the steps of clamping said printed sheets and folded end sheets in a compact with the back edges of said sheets positioned at a first determined height relative to :a reference plane; unclamping and dropping the printed sheets of said pile so that the back edges of said printed sheets are positioned at a second determined height relative to said reference plane lower than said first determined height by a predetermined distance, while simultaneously maintaining the folded end sheets of said pile substantially parallel to said printed sheets with the folded back edges of said end sheets positioned at said first determined height and with the centerfold of said end sheets intact; and subsequently reclamping said pile of printed and end sheets with the back edges of said printed sheets at said second determined height and with the folded back edges of said end sheets at said first determined height so that a portion of said printed sheets projects beyond said folded back edges of said end sheets; and cutting off said portion of said printed sheets while maintaining intact said folded back edges of said end sheets.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the step of outing off said portion of said printed sheets comprises cutting said printed sheets in the plane of the back edges of said end sheets substantially parallel to the plane of the back edges of said printed sheets and at said first determined height so that the centerfold of said end sheets remains intact and the back edges of the printed and end sheets of said pile lie in a plane :at said first determined height while the front edges of said folded end sheets lie in their initial plane and the front edges of the printed sheets lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the back edges of the printed and end sheets and lower than their initial plane by the amount cut off each of said printed sheets.

12. A method as defined in claim 11; and further comprising the steps of moving said end sheets with reference to said printed sheets until the back edges of all said ReferencesCited by the Examiner sheets are in a common plane;

applying glue to the back edges of said printed sheets UNITED STATES PATENTS and of said folded end sheets; and ,0 ,39 6/1963 Segreto 28 l21 apgllyrgleatgover to the back edges of said pnnted and 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 13. A method as defined in claim 12; and further com- 53 7/ 1959 C ad prising the step of 926,199 5/ 1963 Great Britain.

moving the pile of printed and end sheets from one location to another for enabling carrying out the 10 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

preceding steps.

Claims

1. IN APPARATUS FOR THREADLESS BINDING OF BOOKS, BOOKLETS PAMPHLETS AND THE LIKE HAVING PRINTED SHEETS AND FOLDED END SHEETS PARALLEL TO SAID PARALLEL TO SAID PRINTED SHEETS AND ON BOTH SIDES THEREOF, ALL OF SAID SHEETS HAVING FRONT AND BACK EDGES, CLAMPING MEANS CLAMPING SAID PRINTED SHEETS AND SAID FOLDED END SHEETS IN A COMPACT PILE WITH THE BACK EDGES OF SAID SHEETS POSITIONED AT A FIRST DETERMINED HEIGHT RELATIVE TO A REFERENCE PLANE; CONTROL MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID CLAMPING MEANS TO ENABLE DROPPING OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS OF SAID PILE SO THAT THE BACK EDGES OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS ARE POSITIONED AT A SECOND DETERMINED HEIGHT WHICH RELATIVE TO SAID REFERENCE PLANE IS LOWER THAN SAID FIRST DETERMINED HEIGHT BY A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY MAINTAINING THE FOLDED END SHEETS OF SAID PILE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PRINTED SHEETS WITH THE FOLDED EDGES OF SAID END SHEETS REMAINING POSITIONED AT SAID FIRST DETERMINED HEIGHT AND SUBSEQUENTLY RECLAMPING SAID PILE OF PRINTED SHEETS AND FOLDED END SHEETS WHILE MAINTAINING THE BACK EDGES OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS AT SAID SECOND DETERMINED HEIGHT AND FOLDED BACK EDGES OF SAID END SHEETS AT SAID FIRST DETERMINED HEIGHT SO THAT A PORTION OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS PROJECTS BEYOND SAID BACK EDGES OF SAID END SHEETS; AND CUTTING MEANS FOR CUTTING OFF THE PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS WHILE MAINTAINING INTACT SAID FOLDED BACK EDGES OF SAID FOLDED END SHEETS.