Abstract: Apparatus for winding helical wire coils which can be subdivided into discrete spiral binders for insertion into the perforations of steno pads, exercise books or like stationery products has a rotary mandrel whose periphery is adjacent to several rows of rotary wire guiding pins defining a helical path extending around the periphery of the mandrel. The axes of the pins are slightly offset with reference to radial positions relative to the mandrel so that the pins can readily rotate in response to lengthwise movement of the wire therealong and their inner end faces can be placed sufficiently close to the periphery of the mandrel so as to prevent a thin wire from penetrating into the space between the end face of a pin and the periphery of the mandrel.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking pads with spiral binders has a reciprocable and pivotable turn-around device which inverts each second pad of a file of equidistant pads before the pads reach a stacking platform. At the stacking station, the pads are arrested by an adjustable stop which locates inverted pads in a first position and the non-inverted pads in a second position so that the binders of successive pads in a growing stack are located at the opposite sides of the stack. The turn-around device is arrested in response to detection of the absence of pads in the path along which the pads move toward the stacking platform by a photocell which further transmits signals to the mechanism for moving the stop so that the absence of one or more pads does not affect the array of pads in the stack on the platform. A level detector monitors the height of the stack on the platform and transmits signals for stepwise lowering of the platform.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking pads with spiral binders has a reciprocable and pivotable turn-around device which inverts each second pad of a file of equidistant pads before the pads reach a stacking platform. At the stacking station, the pads are arrested by an adjustable stop which locates inverted pads in a first position and the non-inverted pads in a second position so that the binders of successive pads in a growing stack are located at the opposite sides of the stack. The turn-around device is arrested in response to detection of the absence of pads in the path along which the pads move toward the stacking platform by a photocell which further transmits signals to the mechanism for moving the stop so that the absence of one or more pads does not affect the array of pads in the stack on the platform. A level detector monitors the height of the stack on the platform and transmits signals for stepwise lowering of the platform.

Abstract: A tool which loops the end portion of the outermost convolution of a spiral wire binder around the neighboring next-to-the-outermost convolution while the convolutions of the binder extend through the perforations of a stack of paper sheets and the binder is located in a preselected position has a knife which trims the outermost convolution and thereupon bends the end portion of the outermost convolution to a position of parallelism with and proximity to a stationary surface. A looping device which is mounted at the forward end of a rotary reciprocable shaft is thereupon caused to engage the bent end portion in response to forward movement of the shaft and to loop the bent end portion by moving it along the surface and around the neighboring convolution in response to rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for breaking up stacks of paper sheets or the like into two or more thinner layers has a tongs having an upper and a lower idler roller, a reciprocable sword-like dividing tool which can penetrate into an edge face of a stack extending into the space between the rollers, a spring which biases the upper roller against the topmost sheet of the stack, a mechanism for moving the lower roller along a path wherein the lower roller has at least one component of movement at right angles to the planes of sheets between the rollers, and a mechanism for reciprocating the tool in synchronism with movements of the lower roller. The lower roller moves downwardly and away from the upper roller and away from the tool at least when the latter penetrates between the jaws above the last layer, and the lower roller is thereupon lifted to a predetermined operative position when the last layer of a stack is removed from the dividing station.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking pads with spiral binders has a reciprocable and pivotable turn-around device which inverts each second pad of a file of equidistant pads before the pads reach a stacking platform. At the stacking station, the pads are arrested by an adjustable stop which locates inverted pads in a first position and the non-inverted pads in a second position so that the binders of successive pads in a growing stack are located at the opposite sides of the stack. The turn-around device is arrested in response to detection of the absence of pads in the path along which the pads move toward the stacking platform by a photocell which further transmits signals to the mechanism for moving the stop so that the absence of one or more pads does not affect the array of pads in the stack on the platform. A level detector monitors the height of the stack on the platform and transmits signals for stepwise lowering of the platform.

Abstract: Note books having marginal holes are manipulated prior to insertion of spirals which are to be transformed into binders so as to convert the holes into arcuate passages or into V-shaped passages located in planes each making with a row of holes an angle which approximates the helix angle of the spiral. The conversion takes place in two stages, either at two discrete aligning stations or at a single station. If the conversion takes place at two stations, the holes receive the tips of pairs of mandrels which are thereupon pivoted to convert all holes into V-shaped passages. At the second station, a comb introduces its arcuate prongs into some or all of the V-shaped passages. If the conversion takes place at a single station, some of the holes receive the tips of mandrels introduced from one side and some of the holes receive the tips of mandrels introduced from the other side of the note book. The mandrels are thereupon pivoted to convert all holes into V-shaped passages.

Abstract: A device for severing a spiral whose convolutions are threaded through the perforations in aligned marginal portions of two immediately adjacent note books has shears whose halves are provided with cutting edges and deforming shoulders. A system of cams is reciprocably mounted in a carriage for the shears, and the cams have faces which engage the followers of the halves to pivot the cutting edges toward each other whereby the cutting edges sever the spiral between the note books and the shoulders thereupon bend the adjacent end portions of the thus obtained spiral binders in cooperation with the teeth of two locating levers which are pivoted to the carriage and serve to engage the convolutions of the spiral during severing and bending. The note books are held in a predetermined position by the holder of an indexible turret.

Abstract: Note books or pads whose leaves are held together by spiral binders are produced during transport of their constituents along an elongated path between two parallel planes. Stacks of elongated sheets are inserted into a first portion of the path so that the sheets extend transversely of the direction of their stepwise advance. Each stack is thereupon subdivided into several smaller stacks, and each smaller stack is provided with a row of perforations extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the path before the smaller stacks are reassembled into larger stacks each containing a number of sheets corresponding to the number of leaves in a pad. The reassembled larger stacks are thereupon severed in one or more planes which are parallel to the planes flanking the path, and the perforations of each group of resulting pads are aligned in one or more stages for introduction of elongated spirals which are severed to yield discrete binders, one for each pad of the respective group.

Abstract: Note books having marginal holes consisting of registering perforations in the sheets of the note books are manipulated prior to insertion of metallic or plastic spirals, which are to be transformed into binders that hold the note book sheets together, so as to convert each hole into an arcuate passage having a radius of curvature which matches or approximates the radius of the spiral. The conversion takes place in two successive stages at two discrete aligning stations adjacent to the path of holders which are supported by an indexible turret and each of which grips one or more note books. At the first aligning station, each hole receives the tips of two mandrels which are introduced from the opposite sides of the note book and are thereupon pivoted so that the respective hole is converted into a V-shaped passage.