With Control Means Responsive To Sensed Condition Patents (Class 412/11)
  • Patent number: 8185035
    Abstract: An image forming system which realizes reliable output of an original of a finished book, while maintaining security. A sheet-unique information-reading unit reads sheet-unique information unique to a sheet used for making a finished book based on image data. A memory section stores the sheet-unique information read by the sheet-unique information-reading unit in association with the image data based on which a finished book is made. In outputting an original of the finished book, a CPU causes an image forming device to perform image output based on the information stored in the memory section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Kosasa
  • Publication number: 20120076617
    Abstract: A bookbinding system includes an image forming apparatus and a bookbinding apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. The bookbinding system includes an image forming unit to form an image on a recording sheet; a loading unit to load, as a bookblock stack, plural recording sheets on which images are formed; a bonding unit to form a booklet by bonding a cover with the bookblock stack; a setting unit to set a bookblock size, a cover size, and a finishing size; a cutting unit to cut the booklet bonded together with the cover into the finishing size; a stack thickness detection unit to detect a thickness of the bookblock stack; and a bookbinding permission/inhibition determination unit to determine permission/inhibition of a bookbinding operation based on a stack thickness detection result as well as the bookblock size, the cover size, and the finishing size set by the setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoya, Naoto Watanabe, Mitsuhiko Sato, Hidenori Sunada
  • Patent number: 8132995
    Abstract: A book binding machine includes a book block transport system and a plurality of clamps for clamping stacks of leaves. The clamps are disposed at a distance from each other and are guided in guide tracks of a machine frame. The book block transport system includes a clamp, which is also referred to as a lubrication clamp, having a device for lubricating the guide track. An applicator is assigned to each track roller of the clamp, and the lubricant is transferred to the track rollers through the use of a respective applicator such as a brush. The track rollers transfer the lubricant to contact surfaces of the guide track. A lubrication clamp for a book block transport system in a book binding machine, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Michael Adler, Rolf Böttcher
  • Patent number: 8123449
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing hard book cases (covers) can make cases including tucked and folded corners. The apparatus can track the progress of the book case throughout the assembly process and can accurately align the unfinished assembly with the tucking and folding devices of the apparatus. Short runs of different sized book cases may be quickly and efficiently manufactured on a single apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: GP2 Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Porat
  • Patent number: 8109311
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus for bookbinding a sheet by applying adhesive including, an adhesive tank for storing adhesive; first and second heaters for heating the adhesive; a first adhesive temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the adhesive at a first position; a second adhesive temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the adhesive at a second position; an agitation member for agitating the adhesive in the adhesive tank; and a control device, wherein the control device operates, the agitation member after the heaters are turned on, then turns off the second heater and continues to have the first heater on after the second heater has been turned off when the second adhesive temperature sensor detects that adhesive temperature has reached a first temperature that is higher than an application temperature, and then completes a warm-up when the first adhesive temperature sensor detects that adhesive temperature has reached the application temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8083455
    Abstract: A system for positioning a cover relative to a book block. The system comprises a drive unit to cause movement of at least one of the book block and the cover and a position sensor operable to detect at least one of a position of the book block and the cover. The position sensor is operable to generate a position signal indicative of the position. The system also comprises a controller in communication with the position sensor and the drive unit. The controller is operable to receive the position signal and to control the drive unit based on the position signal to adjust a relative position of the cover and the book block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Quad/Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, David F Christofferson, Timothy A. Heimerl, William H. Schnell
  • Patent number: 8070407
    Abstract: A sheet bundle conveying device includes a tray device on which sheets are placed and held in a bundle, a sheet bundle conveying path along which a sheet bundle from the tray device is guided to a predetermined processing position, a grip transferring device located on the sheet bundle conveying path for gripping and transferring the sheet bundle from the tray device to a processing position, and a grip controlling device for controlling the grip transferring device. When an apparatus error occurs, the grip transferring device moves the conveyed sheet bundle backward to the collection stage. A grip on the sheet bundle is released on the collection stage after the sheet bundle is returned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Sasamoto
  • Publication number: 20110280689
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, a binding unit, a folding unit, a conveyance unit, a press unit, a grasping unit, and a control unit. The binding unit performs binding processing on a sheet bundle stacked in the sheet stacking unit. The folding unit folds the sheet bundle that is subjected to binding processing. The conveyance unit conveys the folded sheet bundle. The press unit presses a fold line portion of the conveyed sheet bundle. The grasping unit is separate from the conveyance unit and switches between a first state in which the grasping unit grasps the conveyed sheet bundle to fix the sheet bundle in position and a second state in which the grasping unit does not grasp the conveyed sheet bundle. The control unit shifts the grasping unit to the first state and causes the press unit to press the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu, Hitoshi Kato, Tomoharu Sato
  • Patent number: 8057149
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus which forms a sheet bundle by aligning a plurality of sheets fed from an image forming apparatus and prepares a booklet by applying adhesive on a spine of the sheet bundle, the bookbinding apparatus includes: a storage member for storing the adhesive; a rotating member for rotating in contact with the adhesive in the storage member; a heater for melting the adhesive in the storage member and for heating the adhesive so as to reach a preset temperature; and a control device for controlling the preset temperature, at a termination of the bookbinding job, to switch from a first preset temperature for a time of bookbinding to a second preset temperature which is below the first preset temperature and equal to or above a melting point of the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8052135
    Abstract: While a book block (P) is nipped between a pair of clamping plates (1a, 1b) and passes through processing units (B to D) in succession, perfect book bind processing is carried out. Two or more of the processing units (B to D) have pairs of members (2b, 2c; 3c, 3d; 4a, 4b) which engage or come into contact with both sides of a back surface of the book block A thickness of the book block is measured by a measuring unit (6) before the book binding processing is started. When a thickness of next book block is measured by a measuring unit during the book bind processing of a previous book block, a control section (7) stores a measured value of the thickness of the next book block in a memory (8). When the previous book block reaches a predetermined position on a conveying path, a gap between the pair of members of the processing unit located upstream of a position of the previous book block is adjusted based on the measured value stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Horizon International Inc.
    Inventors: Eiji Katayama, Shinichi Takai, Masaru Kano, Shigeru Wakimoto
  • Patent number: 7997844
    Abstract: A method of producing perfect-bound printed products formed from several printed products, includes feeding printed products, which are gathered to form loose book blocks, are fed by feeders, which are arranged along a conveying line and are driven at least approximately with synchronous timing, to a conveyance device that has receiving devices that follow one another at regular intervals, and are transferred by this conveyance device into a gluing machine. The gluing machine, which is arranged downstream of the conveyance device and also has a conveying function, is run until it is empty in the event of an interruption of a processing operation by discontinuing further feeding of printed products to the receiving devices of the conveyance device and further feeding of loose book blocks to the gluing machine while the gluing machine is emptying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Christian Abegglen, Theo Hug, Christophe Vaucher, Konrad Boos
  • Patent number: 7959394
    Abstract: A glue applicator for applying an adhesive to the spine of a book block or to adjacent areas of a book block of stacked printed sheets being conducted past the glue applicator includes a tank holding liquid adhesive, into which at least one glue applicator roll dips to take up the adhesive and to transfer it to the spine of the book block, the roll being driven in the same travel direction as the book block, wherein the glue applicator roll works together with a doctor blade which is installed above the surface of the glue in the tank, and wherein the doctor blade determines the thickness of the adhesive film to be transferred to the spine of the book block through variation of its distance from the glue applicator roll, and where an actuating element for the doctor blade is positively connected to a cam disk, which is driven by a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Christian Abegglen, Peter Fischer
  • Publication number: 20110110747
    Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of determining and correcting the position and angularity of an edge of a book to be trimmed relative to a shearing plane is disclosed. The book is movable toward and away from the shearing plane and is rotatable about a rotary axis. A pair of spaced sensors generate an output signal indicative of the edge being proximate each the sensor so that upon each sensor generating its signal at substantially the same time thus indicating that the edge is substantially parallel to the shearing plane and so that if one sensors senses the edge before the other thus indicating that the edge is oriented at an angle relative to the shearing plane. A computer control system corrects the angle and vertically positions the edge so that a predetermined trim line for that edge is substantially in register with the shearing plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Marsh
  • Publication number: 20110103919
    Abstract: A spine formation device includes a sheet conveyer, a clamping unit disposed downstream from the sheet conveyer in a sheet conveyance direction, for squeezing a folded portion of a bundle of folded sheets, a contact member against which the folded portion of the bundle is pressed, disposed downstream from the clamping unit, and a controller to cause the bundle of folded sheets to bulge by stopping the sheet conveyer after the bundle of folded sheets is transported a predetermined conveyance distance from a contact position between the contact member and the folded portion of the bundle and to cause the clamping unit to squeeze a bulging portion of the bundle created between the sheet conveyer and the contact member with the folded portion pressed against the contact member. The predetermined distance is set in accordance with a predetermined sheet-related variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Shinji Asami, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Naohiro Kikkawa, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Kiichiroh Gotoh
  • Patent number: 7918635
    Abstract: A book binding machine for producing printed products, such as books, magazines or brochures, includes individually driven processing stations, such as a book spine processing station, a glue application station, a cover feeder and a pressing station, which are connected by a transport system that has a multiplicity of clamps for clamping-in book blocks. The clamps are driven individually, in particular by linear motors or servomotors, and are guided on a guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Lutz Richter
  • Patent number: 7857568
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of preparing edges of sheets to be bound in a text body. The method includes cutting a printed sheet along a straight line passing through the center of the sheet using an irregular cutting edge having an irregularity selected to form cut sheets with a rough edge having a roughness that is a function of desired adhesive wicking; and aligning the cut sheets on top of each other with the rough edges adjacent one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Eric Hoarau
  • Patent number: 7845890
    Abstract: A bookbinding device includes a collecting device for collecting sheets into a bundle and a bookbinding path that includes a sheet bundle conveying device, an adhesive applying device, a cover binding device, and a cover sheet feeding path. The cover binding device includes a back folding press member for the cover sheet and a back rest plate member to back up the cover sheet. A control device allows the back folding press member to execute a back folding process with a small gap formed between the back rest plate member and a back of the sheet bundle. The control device further allows the back of the sheet bundle to abut against the back rest plate member to forcibly cool the adhesive. The control device varies the time required for the cooling depending on the thickness of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Sasamoto, Kouichi Kitta
  • Patent number: 7824143
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus includes: a replenishing device having a pellet storing section that stores pellets of adhesive and a replenishing member that takes out the pellets in a countable manner from the pellet storing section; an adhesive reservoir that melts the pellets replenished from the replenishing member and stores the molten adhesive liquid; a coating device having a coating member that coats the adhesive scooped up from the adhesive liquid; a replenishment sensor that detects the number of pellets replenished to the adhesive reservoir; and a controller that controls the replenishing member based on an output of the replenishment sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Matsui, Masato Hattori
  • Publication number: 20100226733
    Abstract: A bookbinding system includes an image forming apparatus, a plurality of post-processing apparatuses, a controller, and an operation-and-display unit. The image forming apparatus forms images on recording media and outputs the recording media. The plurality of post-processing apparatuses is connected to the image forming apparatus and includes at least a folding apparatus and a ring-binding apparatus. The folding apparatus folds the recording media according to a plurality of folding types including at least Z-shape folding and double folding. The ring-binding apparatus binds the recording media with a ring. The controller is communicatively connected to the image forming apparatus and the plurality of post-processing apparatuses and prevents simultaneous selection of ring binding and a folding type incompatible with ring binding. The operation-and-display unit displays an indication that ring binding and the folding type incompatible with ring binding are not simultaneously selectable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Junichi Ilda, Takeshi Sasaki, Satoshi Saito, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Shingo Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7722306
    Abstract: An image forming system including a binding system section that generates a stack of sheets by accumulating a plurality of sheets and that binds the sheets by wrapping the stack of sheets with a cover sheet in the shape of a horizontal U, the image forming system having: a measurement section to measure the thickness of the stack of sheets; a spine cover width determining section to determine a spine cover width in the cover sheet based on the thickness of the stack of sheets measured by the measurement section; and an image forming section to form on the cover sheet a front cover image and a back cover image separating them by a spacing equal to the spine cover width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Yokobori, Shinya Tanigami
  • Patent number: 7713015
    Abstract: Provided is a bookbinding apparatus including: a conveying unit which sequentially conveys sheets; a gluing unit which glues the sheets conveyed by the conveying unit; a stacking unit which sequentially stacks the sheets glued by the gluing unit; a pressurizing unit which pressurizes glued portions of the sheets stacked on the stacking unit; and a control unit which temporarily stops a stacking process carried out by the conveying unit onto the stacking unit and causes the pressurizing unit to execute a pressurizing process on the sheets stacked on the stacking unit when an operation interrupting event occurs during the stacking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoko Magata, Takeshi Aoyama, Masahiro Funakoshi, Yuichi Yamamoto, Daijiro Kato
  • Publication number: 20100104400
    Abstract: A method for producing printed products with an arrangement including at least one printing press to produce book blocks, at least one conveying device to convey the book blocks, at least one processing device to provide each respective book block with a respective cover, and a control unit to control the production of the book blocks. The method includes producing each respective cover in advance of each respective book block production, supplying each cover to at least one storage unit, and following the supplying of each cover to the storage unit, triggering at least one printing press by the control unit to produce the respective book block on the at least one printing press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Guenther Silberbauer
  • Patent number: 7665943
    Abstract: An apparatus for punching and binding a stack of papers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a paper clamp and a binding element insertion device that are movable relative to each other. The binding element insertion device is configured to receive and detect binding elements of different sizes. The apparatus also includes a punching mechanism, a controller, and a user interface. The controller controls movement of the paper clamp and the binding element insertion device based on the size of the binding element needed to bind the stack of papers together. The user interface is configured to provide information to a user of the apparatus and to receive input from the user before, during, and after the punching and binding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Esselte Business BVBA
    Inventors: Paul J Lemens, Ronald J Hoffman, David Miller, Jeppe Glaser, David A. Muckridge, David Aitchison, Robert Leack, Christopher A. Holman
  • Patent number: 7658584
    Abstract: There are provided bookbinding apparatuses that wrap a bundle of sheets with a cover and form back corners, and have a detecting unit for detecting a wave amount of a bundle of sheets. A type of such an apparatus includes a controller to control a time period to form back corners, based on a result of detection by the detecting unit. Another type of such an apparatus includes a controller to control a pressure applied to form back corners, based on a result of detection by the detecting unit. Still another type of such an apparatus includes a controller to control a time period and pressure applied to form back corners, based on a result of detection by the detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kohji Yoshie, Saburo Shimizu, Riichi Hama, Masahiro Kaneko, Kiyoshi Hata
  • Patent number: 7621708
    Abstract: An apparatus for pressing a cover onto a printing material block that is moved in a transport direction has a first pressing element that can be moved in a first direction and one or more second pressing element that can be moved transversely to the first direction. The first pressing element, in particular, is a pressing table moving in the vertical direction and the second pressing element one or two pressing rail(s) that can be moved in the horizontal direction. The apparatus has a drive unit, in particular with a servo motor, to which a variable control profile can be applied via a connection to a control unit. The variable control profile allows the movement of the pressing rails, for example their stroke or the course of their stroke, to be adapted to the current processing job. The apparatus is particularly suited for use in adhesive binders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Hampel, Stephan Fritsch, Thorsten Holtmeier, Frank Sommerer, Andreas Steinert
  • Patent number: 7607882
    Abstract: An apparatus for timed processing of book blocks for perfect binding includes a feed element to supply respective book blocks horizontally positioned with a spine facing in a feed direction of movement. A lifting device is arranged to receive the respective horizontally positioned book blocks from the feed element. The lifting device is pivotal about a horizontal axis and has an adjustably driven limit stop that forms a conveying end of the feed element. A gripper circulates on a traction element above the lifting device. The lifting device is pivoted about the horizontal axis into an upright position and operates synchronized with the movement of the gripper to lift the respective book blocks with the adjustably driven limit stop to transfer each respective book block to the gripper when the gripper is positioned over the book block in the lifting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Joe Matalevich, Hansjörg Schneeberger
  • Publication number: 20090263212
    Abstract: A bookbinding device receives a sheet on which an image is formed from an image forming apparatus. In the bookbinding device, a punching unit performs a punching process on a sheet; an aligning unit aligns a plurality of sheets on which holes are punched; and a ring binding unit mounts, in the holes of the sheets aligned by the aligning unit, a ring-shaped binding tool to create a booklet. A prohibiting unit, if a sheet received from the image forming apparatus is a punched sheet having a hole thereon, causes the punching unit not to perform the punching process on the punched sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Takeshi SASAKI, Hiroki OKADA, Junichi IIDA, Shingo MATSUSHITA
  • Publication number: 20090257846
    Abstract: A bookbinding system to bind together a batch of sheets transported from an image forming apparatus. The bookbinding system includes a punch unit to form a predetermined number of ring holes in a predetermined portion along a side of the sheets to be bound one by one or in a batch, a ring-binding unit disposed downstream from the punch unit in a direction in which the sheet is transported to insert rings of a ring member into the ring holes formed on the batch of sheets by the punch unit, a ring detector disposed at a portion where the ring member is set to detect a type of the ring member, and a determination unit to determine whether or not an ring-binding operation is executable based on a type of the ring member and a size of the sheets to be bound together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Shingo Matsushita, Junichi Iida, Hiroki Okada, Takeshi Sasaki, Takeshi Akai
  • Patent number: 7568510
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus which is capable of suppressing volatile components of an adhesive causing abnormal odor from leaking out of the bookbinding apparatus, to thereby reduce discomfort to nearby operators and an operator exchanging a deodorizing filter. The bookbinding apparatus 100 is connectable to an image forming apparatus 101 and carries out bookbinding by bonding a plurality of sheets outputted from the image forming apparatus 101 with the adhesive 300. An adhesive heater 302 heats the adhesive 300 and a temperature sensor 301 detects a temperature of the adhesive 300. An adhesive temperature controller 303 controls a heating temperature of the adhesive 300 by the adhesive heater 302, based on the temperature of the adhesive 300 detected by the temperature sensor 301 and a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Nagaya, Akihito Mori, Nobuo Sekiguchi, Keita Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7568687
    Abstract: Bookbinding apparatus facilitating, in the event it is halted during operation, the removal of any sheave left remaining inside, to eliminate the risk of sheets scattering. A sheet bundler/stacker bundles printed sheets into sheaves. Along a binding process path are provided a sheave transporter for transporting the sheaves and, at the downstream end of the bundler/stacker, an adhesive applicator in an adhesive-application position and a front-cover binder in a front-cover binding position. A sheave exiting-conveyor conveys sheaves from the front-cover binder into a storage stacker. A sheet-position recognizer detects/monitors the position of a sheave in the binding process path. If the bookbinding operations are interrupted, the position of any sheave left in the binding process path is determined by the sheet-position recognizer, and when the apparatus is restarted the order of the binding processes is altered depending on the position in which the sheave is left behind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Sasamoto
  • Patent number: 7544029
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to an apparatus and method for attaching a cover to an assembly of plural sheets. Exemplary embodiments include first and second clamping components displaceable relative to one another, wherein the first and second clamping components define a first dimension of a sheet receiving volume, and wherein a second dimension of the sheet receiving volume is defined by a sheet stop and a first plane that is orthogonal to the first and second clamping components; and a roller drive for displacing a first roller along the first plane and exerting a force perpendicular to the first plane in a direction toward the sheet receiving volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert L. Cobene, II, Daniel Steven Kline
  • Publication number: 20090129841
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus comprising: an adhesive container to store melted adhesive; a heater which heats the adhesive to melt; a stirring member to stir the adhesive in the adhesive container; and a control section which controls the operation of the heater and the stirring member so that after the heater has been turned off with the termination of a coating process, the stirring member continues stirring operation and stops thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Masato HATTORI
  • Publication number: 20090129892
    Abstract: A book-binding system includes an image forming apparatus, a binder, a detector, and an operation unit. The image forming apparatus forms images on a plurality of sheets. The binder is connectable to the image forming apparatus and binds with a binding member the plurality of sheets on which the images are formed by the image forming apparatus. The detector acquires information on the plurality of sheets fed from the image forming apparatus to the binder and information on consumables used to bind the plurality of sheets. The operation unit displays the information on the consumables in a selectable manner for input. The input from the operation unit allows selection of consumables depending on the number and type of sheets bound in the binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroki Okada
  • Publication number: 20090079123
    Abstract: The problem of unevenness that an outer shape is different for each booklet is solved by correcting coating thickness control depending on a thickness of a sheet bundle, based on booklet information which includes information on at least the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle, keeping adjustment of a coating thickness for adhesive depending on a thickness of a sheet bundle as a basic method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventor: Masato Hattori
  • Publication number: 20090067950
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus, which is capable of being attached to an image forming apparatus, and bookbinding by adhering a cover sheet onto a spine of a sheet bundle formed by a plurality of sheets on each of which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus, the bookbinding apparatus including: a coating section for coating adhesive onto the spine of the sheet bundle; a heater for heating the adhesive; a temperature detection section for detecting temperature of the adhesive; an input section for receiving input from a user; and a heater control section for controlling the heater based on a detection result of the temperature detection section based on the input from the input section so that temperature of the adhesive becomes a predetermined control temperature, and changing a control condition of the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroki UEDA
  • Publication number: 20090047101
    Abstract: A book binding machine includes a book block transport system and a plurality of clamps for clamping stacks of leaves. The clamps are disposed at a distance from each other and are guided in guide tracks of a machine frame. The book block transport system includes a clamp, which is also referred to as a lubrication clamp, having a device for lubricating the guide track. An applicator is assigned to each track roller of the clamp, and the lubricant is transferred to the track rollers through the use of a respective applicator such as a brush. The track rollers transfer the lubricant to contact surfaces of the guide track. A lubrication clamp for a book block transport system in a book binding machine, is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Adler, Rolf Bottcher
  • Publication number: 20090035016
    Abstract: Image-forming system and bookbinding method, for collating and stacking sheets and binding together their spine-portion edges, that allows easy insertion of foldout leaves in the course of the bookbinding processes. Bookbinding-finishing method for collating printed sheets into bundles and binding together the spine-portion edges includes: an image-forming step of sequentially forming images on a plurality of sheets, based on predetermined image data; a fold-process step of folding the printed sheets from the image-forming step; a stacking step of collating into bundles the printed sheets from the image-forming step and/or the sheets folded in the fold-process step; a bookbinding step of binding together the spine-portion edges of the sheet bundles collated in the stacking step; and a trim-finishing step of trimming true at least the fore-edge of the sheet bundles bound in the bookbinding step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Sanmiya, Kazuyuki Kubota, Yoshito Nakagomi, Hiroshi Nakagomi, Hideya Fujihara, Atsushi Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20090035093
    Abstract: Bookbinding unit that in binding an inner-leave sheet bundle together with a cover enables accurate binding of the cover onto the bundle's spine and meanwhile forms folding scores in the cover flaps. Furnished with: a stacking tray unit; a process path for sequentially transporting bundles from the tray unit into adhesive-application and cover-binding locations; an adhesive application unit, disposed in the adhesive-application location, that applies adhesive to bundles from the tray unit; a cover-supply unit that supplies covers to the cover-binding location; and a cover-binding unit, disposed in the cover-binding location, that binds sheet bundles from the adhesive-application location together with covers. The cover-binding unit has a shoulder-pressing unit that forms spine creases in the spine portion of the covers, and a flap-pressing unit that forms folds in the spine-creased sides of the covers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumasa Takagi, Hiroyuki Sorita, Takehiro Yamakawa, Jun Kondou, Takeshi Harada
  • Patent number: 7478988
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for making hard book cover assemblies. The apparatus may include a cutter for removing a portion of cover material from a hard book cover assembly. Cutting may be performed without releasing the assembly from a conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: GP Squared Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Porat
  • Patent number: 7475623
    Abstract: A pressing structure for a hole-punching unit includes an axle, two wrenching pieces, a pole and two pressing pieces, wherein the axle is axially attached to a case of the hole-punching unit, with one end of the axle axially connecting to a control knob, each wrenching piece connecting to the axle near its end, the pressing piece having a spring coil disposed at its middle and pivotally connected to the pole, and the pressing piece having a pair of lapping portions extending from a first side of the spring coil, and a pair of suppressing portions extending from a second side of the spring coil, the lapping portions leaning against an upper edge of the wrenching piece for the control knob to drive the wrenching piece to move synchronously, so as to let the suppressing portions to press the hole-punching assembly and to fasten the hole-punching assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: Chou-Chih Chiang
  • Publication number: 20080304934
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus which forms a sheet bundle by aligning a plurality of sheets fed from an image forming apparatus and prepares a booklet by applying adhesive on a spine of the sheet bundle, the bookbinding apparatus includes: a storage member for storing the adhesive; a rotating member for rotating in contact with the adhesive in the storage member; a heater for melting the adhesive in the storage member and for heating the adhesive so as to reach a preset temperature; and a control device for controlling the preset temperature, at a termination of the bookbinding job, to switch from a first preset temperature for a time of bookbinding to a second preset temperature which is below the first preset temperature and equal to or above a melting point of the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Masahiro KANEKO
  • Patent number: 7454163
    Abstract: There is provided a bookbinding system which can carry out a process from image formation to glued bookbinding in-line. The bookbinding system comprises a book content data input section 101 to which book content data regarding a content of a book is entered, a cover sheet data input section 101 to which cover sheet data regarding a cover sheet display is entered, a book content image formation section 105 which forms images on recording sheets based on the book content data entered from the book content data input section, a cover sheet display image formation section 105 which forms an image on a case cover based on the cover sheet data entered from the cover sheet data input section, back gluing means 203 for back-gluing the recording sheets on which the images have been formed, and casing means 204 for casing the recording sheets back-glued by the back gluing means with a case cover to bond the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Seitaro Kasahara, Mitsuo Motohashi, Masahiko Kamei
  • Patent number: 7431145
    Abstract: A device for transferring book blocks or books on a conveyance path for synchronized processing in a downstream machine includes a feeding device for the successive book blocks and a synchronizing device downstream of the feeding device. The synchronizing device has a conveyor belt that is connected with the feeding device in a way that allows conveyance. The book blocks are fed on the conveyor belt with lateral guidance to a drive device, which is drive-connected with the conveyor belt and acts to convey the book blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Christian Ganter
  • Publication number: 20080240888
    Abstract: A bookbinding system includes an image forming apparatus and a bookbinding apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. The bookbinding system includes an image forming unit to form an image on a recording sheet; a loading unit to load, as a bookblock stack, plural recording sheets on which images are formed; a bonding unit to form a booklet by bonding a cover with the bookblock stack; a setting unit to set a bookblock size, a cover size, and a finishing size; a cutting unit to cut the booklet bonded together with the cover into the finishing size; a stack thickness detection unit to detect a thickness of the bookblock stack; and a bookbinding permission/inhibition determination unit to determine permission/inhibition of a bookbinding operation based on a stack thickness detection result as well as the bookblock size, the cover size, and the finishing size set by the setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoya, Naoto Watanabe, Mitsuhiko Sato, Hidenori Sunada
  • Publication number: 20080219802
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus for producing a booklet by coating an adhesive onto a back side of a bundle of sheets and by pasting a book cover onto the back side of the bundle of sheets, comprises: an oblique cutout portion forming section to form a cutout on an edge of each sheet of the bundle of sheets in such a way that an oblique cutout portion is formed along the width of the back side of the bundle of sheets; a sheet bundle accommodating section to accommodate the bundle of sheets on which the oblique cutout portion is formed; a coating section to coat an adhesive on the back side of the bundle of sheets accommodated in the sheet bundle accommodating section; and a bookbinding section to paste a book cover on the adhesive-coated back side of the bundle of sheets so as to produce the booklet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Hata
  • Publication number: 20080206018
    Abstract: A machine and methods for automatically opening a closed book, for example a passport, to a desired page for subsequent processing on the page. The book is inserted into the machine in a closed configuration. The machine then opens the book to the appropriate page for subsequent processing either in the machine or in a separate processing machine. A pin is inserted between two adjacent sheets of the book to define a first book portion and a second book portion, and the pin is used to assist in moving the first book portion away from the second book portion to expose the desired page for subsequent processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: DataCard Xorporation
    Inventors: Dennis James Warwick, Wolfgang Horst Obierai, Kai Achim Kropp
  • Publication number: 20080199277
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, including: a booklet making section for making a booklet by covering a sheet bundle comprised of a plurality of sheets with a cover in a U-shape; a folding section for forming a fold-line on a coversheet, which covers the booklet made by the book making section; cover sheet conveyance section for conveying the coversheet; a measurement section for measuring a thickness of the sheet bundle; and a control section for controlling operations of the cover sheet conveyance section and the folding section to determine a folding position on the coversheet and form a fold-line on the folding position; wherein the folding position has been determined based on size information of the coversheet, size information of a sheet of the sheet bundle and thickness information of the sheet bundle measured by the measurement section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi
  • Publication number: 20080101890
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus comprises, a stacking unit on which sheets are stacked; a folding portion which folds the sheets stacked on the stacking unit; a humidifying unit which humidifies portions of the sheets to be fold lines of a booklet before folding by the folding portion; and a controller which controls a humidifying condition at the time of the humidifying by the humidifying unit, wherein the humidifying condition is variable according to the sheets composing the booklet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiko Fujita, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Hajime Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20080069664
    Abstract: A size storing unit stores a size of a ring member for binding stacked sheets. A range determining unit determines whether a thickness represented by input thickness information is larger than a minimum total thickness of sheets allowed to be bound with a ring member having the stored size and equal to or smaller than a maximum total thickness of sheets that can be bound with the ring member. When it is determined that the thickness represented by the thickness information is equal to or smaller than the minimum total thickness or larger than the maximum total thickness, a setting unit sets the size stored in the size storing unit to a different size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Tadashi Nagata, Nobuaki Tomidokoro, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Motoyuki Katsumata, Kohji Ishikura, Akira Miyazaki, Aritaka Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20080056848
    Abstract: A bookbinding system comprising: an image forming apparatus; and a bookbinding apparatus; wherein both the image forming apparatus and the bookbinding apparatus include a communication section respectively, for transmitting information from the image forming apparatus to the bookbinding apparatus; the bookbinding apparatus comprises a coating section for coating adhesive on a stack of sheets, a replenishing section for replenishing adhesive to the coating section, and a controller for controlling the replenishing section; and the controller controls replenishment rate of the adhesive by the replenishing section, based on information transmitted from the image forming apparatus through the communication section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Masato Hattori, Masaki Matsui