And Means Simultaneously Binding Edge Patents (Class 412/20)
  • Patent number: 11958310
    Abstract: A method of providing a book binding assembly in the form of a stack of hardcovers for making hardcover books, with the hardcovers having pressure sensitive adhesives on both sides for securing a cover wrap onto the hardcovers. Liner sheets are disposed over the upper hardcover and intermediate the hardcovers of the stack to protect the various adhesive elements. The liner sheet is then used to accurately apply a cover wrap to the hardcover on which the liner sheet is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: POWIS PARKER INC.
    Inventor: Kevin P. Parker
  • Patent number: 8950994
    Abstract: A measurement unit (6) is provided with a fixed body (19) which is fixed on a base (17) and has a reference surface (19a). A movable body (21) slides in the base along a guide rail, and a measurement body (22) having a measuring surface (22b) slides in the movable body along the guide rail. The measurement body is always pressed against a first side wall (21a) of the movable body by a coil spring (24). A first sensor (27) to detect the time when a book body is located on the front side of the reference surface, and a second sensor (28) to detect the time when the measurement body is separated from the first side wall of the movable body by a predetermined distance, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Horizon International Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Tago, Shigeru Wakimoto
  • Publication number: 20140308095
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for binding a stack of sheets provided with a cover back and cover sheets, wherein the cover back is provided on its inside with a melt glue strip, wherein the cover is provided with at least one identification element, in particular a transponder, in particular a RFID transponder, including an identification feature which is detectable by a reader touch free. The invention furthermore relates to an office binding apparatus with a reader for detecting the identification feature and a system including the cover and the office binding apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Bernd Loibl
  • Patent number: 8790060
    Abstract: Device for joining book block and book cover includes conveyor device, embodied to lift a book block from a lower position into an upper position, and an adhesive application station applying adhesive to the outsides of the book block. Conveyor device and the adhesive application station are arranged so adhesive is applied to the outsides of the book block as it is conveyed by the conveyor device. A removal station is arranged below the adhesive application station and the conveyor device is structured to reverse a direction of movement and to lift and lower the book block and cover in a same vertical plane between the lower position and the upper position. Adhesive application station deactivates adhesive dispensing during the downward movement of the book block with cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kugler-Womako GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Müller
  • Patent number: 8696287
    Abstract: A method and system for on-demand book production is provided in which covers and book content are synchronized at book binding equipment. In one exemplary system and method, a single printer prints a book cover followed by its corresponding book block. The cover and book block are each sequentially staged and synchronized together for binding in the binding equipment. In another method and system for on-demand book production, covers are printed and encoded at a first printer and a book block printing instruction is initiated in response to decoding of the cover in the binding equipment. Printing of the book block is in a separate but integrated printer and the book block is fed to the binding equipment for binding with the book cover. In each instance, synchronized book covers and book blocks are bound in and output from the binding equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gerard R. Sturnick, Timothy J. Kelley
  • Patent number: 8613581
    Abstract: In a machine (1) for manufacturing perfect-bound brochures (2) that includes a book block conveying device (10) with an endless conveying means (11), a plurality of clamps (14) that are arranged on the conveying means at a fixed pitch spacing (T) and serve for clamping book blocks (3, 3.1 . . . 3.8), and of at least one processing station (25, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 30) that can be adjusted in a motor-driven fashion, the cycle time (t0) referred to the conveyance of the clamps (14) by the pitch spacing (T) defined in the at least one processing station is divided into an adjusting segment (tV1, tV2) for resetting and/or adjusting the at least one processing station (25, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 30) in accordance with changing printed product characteristics and a processing segment (tB1, tB2) for processing the book blocks (3, 3.1 . . . 3.8) and/or covers (4, 4.1 . . . 4.4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kai Winkelmann, Jürgen Garlichs, Andreas Walther
  • Patent number: 8517656
    Abstract: A cover applier is provided. The cover applier includes a transport system transporting a book, a cover delivery delivering a cover to a book, the cover delivery driven by a servomotor, a book sensor detecting an image printed on the book prior to the cover being delivered to the book and a cover sensor detecting an image printed on the cover prior to the cover being delivered to the book. The servomotor adjusting the position of the cover with respect to the book as a function of the book sensor and cover sensor. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hartshorne, Glenn Alan Guaraldi, Charles Reif Hammond
  • Patent number: 8442422
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumasa Takagi, Hiroyuki Sorita, Takehiro Yamakawa, Jun Kondou, Takeshi Harada
  • Patent number: 8303229
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus which makes it possible to shorten a time period required to heat an adhesive when the power of the bookbinding apparatus is turned on again. A glue preparation section heats glue. A glue applying section applies the heated glue to a recording sheet bundle. A CPU of the bookbinding apparatus determines at the power-on of the apparatus whether or not there is a recording sheet bundle to which glue is to be applied within the apparatus. When there is no such recording sheet bundle, the glue applying section applies glue to a recording sheet bundle after the temperature of the glue has reached a first target temperature, whereas when there is such a recording sheet bundle, the glue applying section applies the glue to the recording sheet bundle after the glue temperature has reached a second target temperature lower than the first target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Sunada, Mitsuhiko Sato
  • Patent number: 8235639
    Abstract: A method for producing adhesive-bound book blocks from gathered signatures for which the individual signatures forming a non-bound book block are supplied while positioned on the spine on a transfer section to an opened conveying clamp on a perfect binder and are subsequently held while clamped in by the closed conveying clamp along the flat outer surfaces. The gathered signatures of a book block are released in an additional conveying section from the conveying clamp in order to be aligned while guided. Prior to leaving the conveying section for aligning the signatures, the signatures are clamped in once more by the conveying clamps along the flat outer surfaces, so that they can be conveyed to further processing locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Theo Hug, Peter Fischer, Heinz Bötchi
  • Patent number: 8224232
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus includes a glue coating device that coats glue on a back of a sheet bundle, a sheet bundle supporting device that supports the sheet bundle on which glue is coated a cover sheet supporting device that supports a cover sheet, a moving device that moves at least one of the sheet bundle supporting device and the cover sheet supporting device, and thereby changes a distance between the back of the sheet bundle and the cover sheet, and a control device that controls the moving device, wherein the control device controls the moving device so that a distance between the back of the sheet bundle on which the glue are coated and the cover sheet is set to a distance D1, then the distance is set to a distance D2 that is greater than the distance D1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Masato Hattori
  • Publication number: 20120141231
    Abstract: A machine (10) for fastening sheets comprises a) a fastening platform (11, 12, 13), which i) comprises a support surface (12) inclined with respect to the horizontal plane (x-y) which optionally also comprises extension means for the support surface, and ii) comprises an alignment surface (13), which is located at the bottom edge of the support surface or lower than this, in such a way that the intersection of the plane formed by the support surface and the plane formed by the alignment surface is formed, with respect to the support surface, by a threshold (100) extending along the width of the support surface, and b) a fastening unit (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Maping Kommandiittiyhtiö L. Huotari
    Inventors: Henri Huotari, Iisakki Huotari, Lauri Huotari, Teemu Launto
  • Publication number: 20120093613
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus including: a stacking section for stacking sheets to form a bundle of sheets; a sheet-conveyance shifting section for conveying a sheet, or a cover sheet to become a cover of a booklet to a predetermined position; a melt tank for storing a hot-melt adhesive, and a bookbinding control section configured to execute a bookbinding mode in which a booklet is formed by coating adhesive inside the melt tank onto an edge surface of a bundle of sheets and adhering the cover sheet to the edge surface, onto which the adhesive has been coated, of the bundle of sheets, and an adhesive discharging mode in which the adhesive inside the melt tank is discharged outside the melt tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Masato HATTORI
  • Patent number: 8132994
    Abstract: A punching processing unit punches holes in a paper bundle delivered from a preprocessing device. A bookbinding unit includes a cartridge for stocking a plurality of rings, and performs a ring binding by binding the paper bundle with the rings. A detecting unit detects an abnormality of a ring in the cartridge. A control unit exchanges a signal with the preprocessing unit each time when detection information obtained by the detecting unit changes. When any one of the rings is determined as abnormal and an execution of ring binding is set, the control unit inhibits the ring binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Okada, Takeshi Sasaki, Shingo Matsushita, Junichi Iida
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20100129179
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for binding a book, said method comprising the steps of providing a bifolio with a first leaf, a second leaf, a fold edge and at least one tab protruding in a comb formation along said fold edge, providing a cover sheet with a cover sheet fold edge defining a cover page and a first page, and affixing said at least one tab to a back of said first page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: MASON PERKINS
  • Patent number: 7713016
    Abstract: A dual function binding machine for making journal notebooks at home includes a hole punching mechanism and a binding mechanism. A punch die includes a plurality of rectangular punch teeth in a graduated configuration to minimize the amount of force required to penetrate through the journal book materials. A guide provides different positions for punching through covers, inner pages and continuous punching of both. This allows the perfect alignment and fit of the outside covers with the inside pages. A spring biased lever operates the punch die in a horizontal direction. The binding mechanism included in the same machine has a vertical outer vise wall that is horizontally movable to compress the binding material to the pages and covers of the journal notebook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventor: Felipe Angel
  • Patent number: 7695229
    Abstract: A method for adhesive binding and assembly of text bodies having plural sheets to a cover to form a bound document. Exemplary embodiments include applying an adhesive to a contacting surface of a plurality of sheets of the text body on an individual sheet-wide basis and adhering the plurality of sheets to the cover on an individual sheet-wide base by making line contact between the contacting surface and the cover and by curing the adhesive. Alternatively, the plurality of sheets can be positioned in a stand-off position from the cover and the adhesive can be applied into the gap. A system for binding a text body to a cover to form a bound document is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert L. Cobene, II, Eric Hoarau
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20090081001
    Abstract: Bookbinding unit eliminating the necessity of a user, in placing collated inner leaves onto a tray, pre-measuring the bundle thickness, and the danger of fingers getting pinched during the placement. Furnished with: inner-leaf tray; coversheet tray; gripping conveyor gripping and transporting bundles of leaf-tray sheets; coversheet conveyor feeding coversheet-tray covers and placing them in a binding location; adhesive applicator applying adhesive to bundle spine-portion endfaces; cover binder binding bundles and covers together; and controller encasing bundles in covers to form booklets. A first detector, in the inner-leaf tray, detects thickness of bundles therein, and a second detector, in the gripping conveyor, detects thickness of the gripped bundles. The controller prohibits the gripping conveyor from conveying inner leaves out from the inner-leaf tray when the thickness of a sheet bundle detected by the first detector is more than a predetermined thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiichi Ota, Kazuyuki Kubota, Takehiro Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 7210887
    Abstract: A bookbinding machine for processing inner books includes a transport system with a multiplicity of inner-book clamps continually movable in a closed continuous track. Each of the inner book clamps is articulated to a circulating roller chain and has a rear-edge stop for aligning the inner books. The bookbinding machine includes workstations that perform positionally accurate operations on the inner books including the application of glue, the application of reinforcement or gauze sections, the application of jackets, binding with wire stitches, the introduction of utilisation features (e.g. punched holes, tear-off perforations, etc.) and the like. The transport system of the inner-book clamps and at least one workstation are driven independently of one another. A measuring system for positional detection of the inner-book clamps or of the inner books is provided in proximity to the independently driven workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Holger Engert, Jürgen Garlichs
  • Patent number: 6685415
    Abstract: A bookbinding structure and method. The bookbinding structure is used to bind pages together in existing, commercially available binding machines. The bookbinding structure has a heat activated adhesive matrix for binding the pages. To attach a wrap-around book cover once the pages have been bound with the bookbinding structure, an adhesive on the outer surface of the bookbinding structure may be exposed by removing a release liner covering the adhesive. The book cover may then be adhered to the exposed adhesive either by a heat method or by applying pressure over the adhesive, depending on the particular type of adhesive of the bookbinding structure. The book cover may be printed with information and/or graphics prior to being wrapped around the pages of the book.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Powis Parker Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rush, Laura H. Rush
  • Patent number: 6641345
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for increasing the binding strength of a bound text body by increasing the spinal surface area exposed for adhesive penetration greater than an area corresponding to the product of the sheet height dimension, the sheet thickness dimension and the number of sheets. In one aspect, sheet-wise conditioning of the binding area is performed prior to the application of adhesive to increase the bond area between sheets of the text body. In another aspect, the spinal surface area exposed for adhesive penetration is increased as adhesive is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert L. Cobene, II, Steven W Trovinger, Christopher A Schantz, Raymond G. Schuder, John P Ertel
  • Patent number: 6450492
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for receiving and assembling sheets in a binding station at which thermal binding strips are automatically supplied to the side edges of the assembled sets, the sheet receiving trays at the binding station are laterally moved apart to allow a set of assembled bound or unbound sheets to gravitate to a stapling station at which an assembled set of sheets may be stapled together, and the trays forming the stapling station are moved laterally apart to allow the stapled set to gravitate to a stacker tray which is allowed to move downwardly as progressive sets are deposited on the stacker tray and the stacker tray is moved upwardly to a set receiving position following removal of finished sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Gradco Japan
    Inventors: Peter M. Coombs, James R. Seay
  • Patent number: 6409447
    Abstract: A method of binding folded signature sections together into a book comprised of a signature comb element having teeth which are inserted through perforations in the fold of the signatures and the teeth having tabs which secure the signature comb in slots between two or more spine tapes. The spine tapes adjustably lock into the hinge of the covers by a tooth and pawl mechanism, further interlocking one or more signatures to the spine of the book and securely fasten together the signatures and book cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Tanarax, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Kent Malmros
  • Patent number: 6406244
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stack of flexible sheet material comprising a plurality of sheets disposed one on top of another, each sheet having repositionable adhesive along one edge and being free of adhesive along the opposite edge and the sheets are stacked with the repositionable adhesive edge of each sheet disposed along alternate opposite edges to maintain the sheets in the stack, characterized in that the stack comprises at least two sheets that are different from each other. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for obtaining a stack of sheets as defined above and a dispenser comprising a stack of sheets as defined above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Frederic P. A. Le Riche
  • Publication number: 20010012479
    Abstract: A punch unit, in particular for making a punch for the binding comb of a ring binding is set-up of a circular shaped blade 1 and a counter die 19. The circular blade 1 is rotatably beard concerning an axis of rotation 27. At the circumference of the blade 1 cutting elements 2 are arranged. This cutting elements 2 raise over a fictive rolling circle 21. The surface of the counter die 19 is arranged perpendicular at the distance of the rolling circle radius rW to the axis of rotation 27 of the circular blade 1 and show one or several opening in which in each case intervenes at least one cutting element 2 of the circular blade 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventor: Axel Lewandowski
  • Patent number: 6217271
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing booklets, each of which comprises a cover (A) that has two cover sides, a spine between the cover sides, a glue string applied to the inner surface of the spine, and a sheet bundle inserted between the two cover sides. A plurality of covers each having an applied glue string are placed in the immediate vicinity of each other, in a readiness position. The sheet bundle (B) is then combined with one of the covers (A), so as to enclose the sheet bundle in the cover with one side edge of the bundle facing towards the glue string. The glue string is then actuated in an actuator (8), so as to bind this side edge of the bundle (B) to the inner surface of the spine. According to the invention, the sheet bundle (B) is combined with the cover (A) by moving the sheets of the bundle one by one, or as a complete bundle, to the cover in its readiness position by means of a powered transporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Bindomatic AB
    Inventors: Urpo Latvakangas, Jan Sabelström
  • Patent number: 6199851
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a device for assembling and producing of booklets. Each booklet having a cover that comprises two cover sheets and a spine disposed inbetween. A glue string is applied to the inner surface of the spine, and a sheet bundle inserted between the cover sheets of said cover and affixed at one end side edge to the inner surface of the spine by means of the glue string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Bindomatic AB
    Inventors: Urpo Latvakangas, Jan Sabelstrom
  • Patent number: 6099225
    Abstract: A low cost, high speed, high resolution laser printer method and apparatus for re-writable media is presented. A method for finishing of printed sheets into booklets is described. Novel mechanical operations permit the manufacture of a very low-cost, off-line booklet maker for use with desktop laser and ink jet printers. The technology can scale to medium-speed, in-line booklet manufacture. The method is novel because most of the finishing operations are performed on a sheet-by-sheet basis using precision paper positioning and a transverse tool carrier that cuts, scores, folds, punches, and staples the sheets. To form a finished saddle-stitched booklet, each sheet is cut to length determined by its sequence in the booklet and paper thickness, scored, punched (if required), folded, accumulated in a stack, and stapled. The sheet-wise method allows finishing operations to be done with low-cost tools and low actuation forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Ross R. Allen, Steven W. Trovinger
  • Patent number: 6030165
    Abstract: A sheet supply inlet (4) receives sheets (3) one by one from a printing machine (2). A sheet gathering and registering mechanism (20) comprises a pair of sheet feed rollers (24A, 24B) arranged in the neighborhood of the sheet supply inlet (4) for successively supplying each sheet (3) from the sheet supply inlet (4) to the sheet stitching station (5) so as to lay the sheets (3) one above another in the sheet stitching station (5), and a guide plate (26) arranged adjacent to the sheet feed rollers (24A, 24B) for swing movement in such a manner that the guide plate (26) pushes the rear end of the top sheet (3) toward the stopper (12; 13) until the front end of the top sheet (3) abuts against the stopper (12;13) each time the sheet is supplied to the sheet stitching station (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Horizon International Inc.
    Inventor: Katsunori Ishida
  • Patent number: 5971689
    Abstract: A binding machine is operable to hyper-deflect the rings of a binding element against non-planar surfaces to achieve an advantageously forward presentation of free ends of the rings for ergonomic and convenient insertion of a perforated stack of sheets. An embodiment of the binding machine has a base, a plurality of stationary hooks fixed to the base, and a comb member which is pivotally mounted to the base. The comb member may be fixed to a shroud which is mounted to effect the pivotal movement of the comb member. Additionally, this shroud may be axially shifted. When the binding element is supported against the comb member, the axial and pivotal motions of shroud respectively cause (1) engaging of rings of the binding element with the stationary hooks and (2) uncurling deflection of the rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: General Binding Corp.
    Inventors: Roger R. Scharer, Thomas T. Battisti, John Geisert
  • Patent number: 5876170
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided for checking completeness of a book block intended for an adhesive binding, wherein an adhesive binding machine includes a conveyor defining a conveying path along which the book block is conveyed. A plurality of processing stations are arranged along the conveyor for processing the book block. A measuring device is disposed along the conveyor and is adapted to check completeness of the book block by measuring the thickness of the book block. The measuring device includes measuring elements arranged opposite each other on both sides of the conveying path. The measuring elements are separated by a distance to define a measuring segment and arranged for exerting a defined contact pressure onto the flanks of the spine of the book block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: GRAPHA-Holding AG
    Inventor: Peter Geiser
  • Patent number: 5667211
    Abstract: An apparatus for the adhesive binding includes a plurality of receiving parts which are arranged one behind the other in a circulation direction. A printed product is introduced at a feed location in each receiving part. The receiving parts are driven continuously in the circulation direction, and the printed products are machined upon being transported past a plurality of machining stations. The machining stations necessary for the adhesive binding are arranged one behind the other. The adhesively bound finished products are removed, in a discharge region, from the receiving parts in order to be further transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Walter Reist
  • Patent number: 5570985
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing booklets. Each booklet is made of a cover having two cover sheets and a spine, a bead of glue attached to the inside of the spine, and a sheaf of papers inserted between the cover sheets and attached to the spine by the bead of glue. The apparatus and method include moving the sheaf of papers to a first position by a first transporter, moving one of several covers stored in a cassette to a second position by a second transporter, and moving the sheaf of papers and cover into contact so that the sheaf of papers is enclosed by the covers and a side edge of the sheaf contacts the bead of glue. The assembled booklet moves past a device for activating the bead of glue. A method is provided for filling the cassette, which stores and dispenses the covers, and a method and apparatus are provided for jogging up the sheaf of papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventors: Urpo Latvakangas, Jan Sabelstrom
  • Patent number: 5355207
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a binding function. A container, having a binding mechanism located in the bottom end thereof, is attached to the housing of the image forming apparatus. A guide member movable between a first positions in which the guide member is adjacent to the bottom end of the container, and a second position in which the guide member projects beyond the insertion opening of the container is provided to support a binder which is loaded in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yano, Mitsuo Nomura, Hiroyuki Arai, Yoshifumi Ishii, Ichiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5314283
    Abstract: A bindery system captures pages of a bound or unbound book in a hard or soft cover case with a metal U-shaped channel which in turn is bonded to the inside spine surface of the hard or soft covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Zoltner
  • Patent number: 5275520
    Abstract: A binding unit binds sheets with a binder having an electric heater and electrodes for supplying electric current to the electric heater. The binding unit includes a container and an inner lid. The container has an insertion opening at one end through which the binder is inserted, and electrode terminals at the opposite end which come into contact with the electrodes of the binder. The inner lid is openable and provided in the container between the insertion opening and the electrode terminals. It assumes a closed position covering the electrode terminals when no binder is loaded in the container, and an open position allowing the electrodes of the binder to come into contact with the electrode terminals and at the same time supporting one side of the binder when loaded in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yano, Mitsuo Nomura, Hiroyuki Arai, Yoshifumi Ishii, Ichiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5261769
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a soft cover to book block is disclosed. A book block conveyor moves the book block to a cover applying station. A first adhesive applicator applies adhesive to the spine of the book block. A soft cover conveyor transports the soft cover to the covering station in a timed relationship to the book block. A crash feeder attaches crash to a first portion of the soft cover that covers a first side of the book block as the soft covers pass the crash feeder. The crash is attached to the soft cover so that the crash engages a spine portion of the cover that covers the spine of the book block but is not attached to the spine portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: AM International Incorporated
    Inventor: Mark Leclerc
  • Patent number: 5252018
    Abstract: A sheet material binding apparatus for binding sheet materials with a cover material by a heat-adhesive bonding agent includes a heating plate on which the spine of the covering material having the bonding agent is placed, the heating plate being used for heating the bonding agent; a guide for supporting the covering material and the sheet materials vertically on the heating plate; a guide driver for moving the guide in a direction of a thickness of a set of the sheet materials to facilitate setting and removing of the covering material and the sheet materials; and a controller for controlling the guide driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Canon Aptex Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Kitahara, Kimiaki Hayakawa, Shuichi Yabe
  • Patent number: 5226771
    Abstract: A book binding apparatus and method secures pages of a document in a U-shaped channel. The apparatus automatically adjusts the binding jaws of the apparatus to the current size of the channel prior to the binding force being applied to the channel. The operating forces generated by the apparatus in deforming the channel are limited by generating small amounts of deformation in the channel for each pull of an operating handle, and by using multiple pulls of the handle to completely secure the pages into the channel. A debinding apparatus and method, using the same mechanism as the binding apparatus, debinds the pages from the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: John F. Gardner
  • Patent number: 5160234
    Abstract: A sheet binder includes a frame having first and second spaced parallel support walls for receiving therebetween a plurality of sheet to be bound. The walls each have a first end for defining therebetween an opening into which the sheets are inserted, and a second end defining therebetween a binding zone. A heating plate and deposition base are operably associated with the second ends for applying an adhesive strip to associated edges of the sheets for binding the sheets together. The plate and base are displaceably supported within the frame for being linearly and alternatingly moved into and out of the binding zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Inventor: Peter Lazar
  • Patent number: 5013200
    Abstract: A binding system including a method for binding sheets in which a stack of the sheets is shingled to disclose narrow side surface portions along their spine edges, a uniform layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered to those spine edges and narrow side surface portion after which the spine edges are moved into alignment at a right angle to the side surfaces of the sheets to re-form the pressure sensitive adhesive along the spines of the sheets, and a flexible backing is adhered over the re-formed adhesive along the spine edges and at the side surfaces of the sheets to retain the spine edges of the sheets in that alignment. The system also includes a novel cover structure which facilitates the method and includes cover plates, the pressure sensitive adhesive and the backing; and a novel device for holding and positioning the sheets during binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Inventors: Ray A. Hunder, Alden R. Miles, Stephen H. Dwyer, Dorman N. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5011187
    Abstract: A binding system including a method for binding connected fan folded sheets in which a stack of the sheets is shingled to disclose narrow side surface portions along their spine edges, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on a highly flexible backing is adhered to those spine edges and narrow side surface portion after which the spine edges are moved into alignment at a right angle to the side surfaces of the sheets to cause the backing and layer of pressure sensitive adhesive to pleat around the spines of the sheets. The system also includes a novel cover structure which facilitates the method and includes cover plates, the pressure sensitive adhesive and the backing; and a novel device for holding and positioning the sheets during binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ray A. Hunder, Larry A. Bettenhausen, Alden R. Miles, William A. Mittelstadt, Stephen H. Dwyer, Gary R. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5002447
    Abstract: A binding provided with stationary transparent pockets which can receive sheets of any type of materials, such as sheets of paper, cardboard, photographs, samples of floor or wall coverings, and the like. The cover of the binding comprises a transparent double sheet of the same material as the pockets. This sheet is heat-sealed together with pockets in the zone of folding, while two cardboard sheets are glued to the inside of the double sheet in the zone comprising two flat surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Jowa, S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Borel
  • Patent number: 4978267
    Abstract: A device is used for casing inner books in book covers. The device reciprocates in a vertical direction synchronously with an inner book conveyor. A feed roll system is provided for enclosing the inner book in the book cover. A clamping mechanism is provided for receiving and positioning the cover spine. A pair of alignment elements form part of the clamping mechanism and are operatively connected to an actuating device so as to move from first lateral positions relative to the plane of travel of the inner book towards the book cover, thereby centering the spine of the book cover relative to the plane of travel of the inner book and aligning it in a direction normal to the plane of travel of the inner book. Hold-down elements are provided for holding the book cover against a support surface during centering and alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH KG
    Inventor: Helmut Kolkhorst
  • Patent number: 4556353
    Abstract: In a process and apparatus for binding books, upper (forward) portions of bookblocks in a vertical position with backs down are gripped by clamps on a conveyor for transporting the bookblocks through successive operating stations. At one operating station a rotating element dipping in a bath of adhesive applies adhesive in transverse strips to backs of bookblocks. At another operating station rollers apply adhesive to lower (rear) portions of first and last pages of the bookblocks. As front and back covers connected by a back are transported, inside up, along a path merging with the path along which said bookblocks are transported, adhesive is applied by rollers or spray heads to outer (forward) portions of the front and back covers. The covers are brought under respective bookblocks and lower (rear) portions of the bookblocks together with the covers are gripped between opposed pressing bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Inventor: Hans-Dieter Ehlermann