Abstract: A book binding machine includes a collating machine, a perfect binder and a transfer device disposed between the collating machine and the perfect binder. The collating machine and the perfect binder are actuated by a common control device. In each case, one transport segment is assigned to a respective book block clamp by the control device. The control device also has a program which, if a defective or missing book block clamp is detected, actuates the collating machine in such a way that no book block is collated for that book block clamp. A method for operating a book binding machine is also provided.

Abstract: Sheets are bound to form a bound document by fastening together the sheets and a binding strip. A spacer is applied to a back sheet adjacent to the feet of the fasteners. A wraparound portion of the binding strip is folded around the spine edges of the sheets so that adhesive on the strip contacts the spacer or the back sheet farther from the spine than the feet of the fasteners. The adhesive is affixed to the back sheet. The binding strip includes a spacer adjacent to the heads of the fasteners, protruding above the face-attachment portion at least as far as the heads of the fasteners do.

Abstract: In a sheet finisher including an adhesive coating section, a movement mechanism, a control section that controls actions of the adhesive coating section and of the movement mechanism, is capable of multiple coating on a spine of a sheet bundle by causing the movement mechanism to move the adhesive coating section reciprocally and relatively with respect to the spine, and is capable of conducting a preparation process to cause the rotary adhesive supplying section to rotate for a prescribed period of time in a rotation direction corresponding to a movement direction of the adhesive coating section under a condition of no coating of the adhesive on the spine of the sheet bundle, after the movement direction of the adhesive coating section and the rotation direction of the rotary adhesive supplying section are switched, following the reciprocating movement in the case of the multiple coating.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a system and method for treating a printed flexible book cover prior to book binding. In the embodiments, a liquid (e.g., water or a water-oil solvent mixture) can be applied (e.g., by a liquid applicator, such as a spray nozzle, sponge, brush, etc.) to the spine portion only of the book cover so that it pools on the surface. After a predetermined amount of time, the liquid can be removed (e.g., by a liquid remover, such as a vacuum, blower, heater, etc.). Allowing the spine portion of the book cover to soak in the liquid for this predetermined amount of time ensures that the liquid saturates the spine portion. Saturating the spine portion of the book cover alters the surface structure and, thereby enhances adhesion of an adhesive material (e.g., glue or tape) during a subsequent book binding process even in the presence of fuser oil.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attaching a cover to a text body to create bound documents with floating and attached spines are described. In some embodiments, a solid pressure sensitive adhesive film is applied between a cover and the side hinge areas of a text body, and a cover is bound to the side hinge areas of the text body with pressure. A solid pressure sensitive adhesive tape may be dispensed from an adhesive dispenser that includes a plug-in cartridge housing, a supply spool, and a take-up spool. In other embodiments, an adhesive sheet that includes a hot melt adhesive film and a backing is applied to the text body, with the hot melt adhesive film in contact with the side hinge areas and the spine of the text body. The hot melt adhesive is exposed in areas corresponding to the side hinge areas of the text body for attaching the cover to the text body.

Abstract: An instant book binding system and book cover for rapidly binding single- or double-sided documents, photographs, pages, and other forms of hardcopy media into soft or hard cover books is disclosed. The book binding method using the book cover or system can be performed without special skills or training, and does not require the use of ancillary equipment. The book cover system can be used in conjunction with output on a wide variety of media types, finishes, and stock weights from any type of printer or copier, or with photographs. The finished books retain the appearance and function of conventional mass produced soft and hard covered books.

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.

Abstract: A sheet collecting device includes a tray on which sheets are placed, a sheet discharging roller for transferring sheets to the tray, an abutment regulating device for regulating a leading end and a trailing end of the sheets on the stacking tray in a conveying direction, and an aligning device for aligning the sheets relative to the abutment regulating device. The stacking tray includes a tray base supported by an apparatus frame and a plate member disposed on the tray base for placing and supporting at least some of the sheets. The plate member is supported on a top surface of the tray base so as to be movable toward an abutment regulating member. A biasing device is provided between the plate member and the tray base to bias the plate member toward the abutment regulating member.

Abstract: A method and system for binding of sheets includes providing an adhesive layer supported on a first side of a backing material. Plural sheets are accumulated against the adhesive layer, and heat is applied to a side of the adhesive layer adjacent the backing material to locally melt only a portion of the adhesive layer in a vicinity of an additional sheet accumulated against the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A book binding apparatus for binding a stack of sheets, including a cover element having a first cover section that corresponds to the dimensions of the sheets and a first section of pressure sensitive adhesive and an associated release liner disposed along a first edge of the first cover section. A flap member is attached to the first cover section and is movable between a closed position disposed over the first pressure sensitive adhesive layer and an open position moved away from the layer. A second adhesive layer and associated release liner is disposed on an inner surface of the flap member. The binding apparatus may be used in combination with second cover section and associated binder spine element having heat activated adhesive to bind the stack of sheets. The spine element is folded around the edge of the stack to be bound and is secured in place by the first section of pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: A printer includes a roller assembly for feeding sheets of print media along a feed path. A print head is positioned downstream of the roller assembly for carrying out a printing operation on the sheets of print media. An adhesive application mechanism is positioned downstream of the print head and includes first and second aligned adhesive applicators that are positioned on opposite sides of the feed path and are configured to apply adhesive simultaneously to the sheets of media as the sheets pass between the applicators along the feed path, such that the sheets each have aligned strips of adhesive on respective sides. A support structure positioned downstream of the adhesive application mechanism defines a floor onto which sheets to be bound are conveyed and a wall that extends from the floor to define a stop for the sheets that are fed onto the floor.

Abstract: In an image processing machine, having a housing, and including, within the housing, at least one sheet stack accumulation station at which a stack of sheets having been operated on by the image processing machine are accumulated, a method and apparatus for automated post processing sheet stack binding is disclosed which may comprise: an automated sheet stack binding station; a sheet stack transfer mechanism adapted to seize a stack of sheets and to transfer the stack of sheets from the accumulation tray to the automated sheet stack binding station and to hold the stack of sheets in a binding position at the automated sheet stack binding station during a binding operation; a sheet stack binding strip supply mechanism containing a plurality of sheet stack binding strips; a sheet stack binding strip transfer mechanism adapted to transfer one of the sheet stack binding strips from the sheet stack binding strip supply mechanism to the automated sheet stack binding station; the automated sheet stack binding statio

Abstract: A bookbinding structure for binding a stack of sheets including an elongated substrate having a first surface on which a first, heat activated, adhesive matrix is disposed and a second surface on which a second, pressure activated adhesive is disposed. The first adhesive matrix will be used to binding an edge of the stack so as to form a bound book with no cover. The second adhesive matrix includes first and second spaced-apart segments which extend along the length of the substrate. First and second release liners are disposed over the first and second adhesive segments, with the release liners remaining in place until the stack of sheets have been bound with the bookbinding structure. One of the release liners is manually removed from the bound stack and the stack is positioned in a cover assembly with the edge of the stack being positioned opposite a spine section of the cover assembly.

Abstract: The invention combines the binding techniques described in application Ser. No. 09/320,060 titled Binding Sheet Media Using Imaging Material with a buckle chute type folding device to form self mailers and other folded and bound or sealed document. The device for folding and binding sheet media using imaging material as the binder includes a buckle chute, a binder downstream in the paper path from the buckle chute, an input driver proximate to and upstream in the paper path from the buckle chute, and an exit driver proximate to and between the buckle chute and the binder in the paper path. The input driver directs the media sheet into the buckle chute and, in cooperation with the buckle chute, buckles the media sheet along a fold line. The exit driver receives the media sheet from the buckle chute, folds the media sheet along the fold line and directs the media sheet towards the binder.

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.

Abstract: A unitary stack of paper sheets has alternating individual paper sheets and double release liners which are releasably bonded together in a manner whereby an individual paper sheet is easily removed and used as a base. Each paper sheet in the unitary stack has a pressure sensitive adhesive partially covering each face thereof in approximate aligned areas of the respective faces. In use, an individual paper sheet is readily removed from the unitary stack and one or more release liners removed from the individual sheet to fully expose the front face and the back face of the individual sheet. The front face or the back face of the individual sheet is then adhered to the substrate, and an item posted on its opposed face.

Abstract: A unitary stack of paper sheets has alternating individual paper sheets and individual release liners which are loosely bonded together in a manner whereby an individual paper sheet is easily removed and used as a base. Each paper sheet in the unitary stack has a pressure sensitive adhesive partially covering each face thereof in approximate aligned areas of the respective faces. A back face of the individual sheet is adhered to a substrate while a front face holds an item for posting. In use, an individual paper sheet is readily removed from the unitary stack, adhered on its back face to the substrate, and then an item posted on its front face.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for affixing book pages to a book cover is disclosed having a sheet of paper with at least one waxy side and two stickers, each having a first side, the first side being sticky and removably affixed to the waxy side of the sheet of paper. In the preferred embodiment, the two stickers are separated by a distance to accommodate the thickness of pages of a book. The apparatus also has a means for easy removal of the stickers from said sheet and is preferably done by having the sheet of paper extending beyond each of the stickers to allow for easy separation of the stickers from the sheet of paper. The stickers may be attached to the book pages by a variety of means such as staples, channel binding, or otherwise.

Abstract: A paper supplying apparatus has a rotatable member around a horizontal axis, a pair of clamp plates supported by this rotatable member mutually parallel and in face-to-face relationship for clamping a book block in between, and guide plates each attached to an associated one of these clamp plates, extending downward from the clamp plates to a lower edge part of the book block when the book block is held vertically. Such a paper supplying apparatus can be removably connected to a book binding machine by attaching a guide rail to an outer wall of the book binding machine and a runner to the paper supplying apparatus. The runner is slidably engageable with the guide rail, allowing the paper supplying apparatus to move along the guide rail selectably towards or away from the book binding machine.

Abstract: An improvement for a file binder of the type having a back portion (4) made of a porous or nearly porous material, for instance cardboard, wherein the back portion has an inner side on which an amount of glue (6) which melts under the influence of head is provided, includes a layer of substantially non-porous material (5) disposed between the back portion and the glue.

Abstract: A method of fusing two or more pieces along an edge to produce a bound volume uses an activating agent which dissolves and mixes with a component present on the pieces, and thereby causes the edges of the various pieces to fuse together. The method is particularly useful for producing bound periodicals and magazines.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a wraparound cover to a pad includes a loading station, a creasing station having a pair of knife edges and an anvil for applying a pair of parallel creases in the cover, a gluing station for applying a bead of glue to an under side of the pad and a folding station for folding an overlap portion of the cover about the rear and underside of the pad so as to engage the glue bead. The folding station includes a holddown mechanism and an articulated hand that folds the cover overlap portion at each crease about the rear edges of the pad.

Abstract: A book-binding apparatus conveying a bind tape in front of a tape heater and an aligned sheet bundle is urged against the bind tape pre-heated by the tape heater to glue a plurality of sheets by melted adhesive on the bind tape. An aligning time for the sheet bundle is calculated on the basis of attributes of the sheets being aligned and a conveyance start timing for the bind tape is changed in accordance with the calculated aligning time.

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.

Abstract: A filing device which can detachably secure and hold sheet-like materials to be filed at the inner side of the spine with reliable adhesion without forming punching holes in which non-staining soft polyurethane elastomer having continuous high adhesion at room temperature is secured to the inner side of the spine and the sheet-like materials are secured to and held with the polyurethane elastomer at their edges, and also supplemental sheet-like materials to be used with said filing device.

Abstract: A system for producing a laminated facsimile sheet assembly to cover and conceal a facsimile message on a message sheet comprises a supply of message sheet material which may be a roll of sheet material. A printing head is disposed to print a message on a section of the sheet material. A supply of cover sheet material is disposed to superimposed a cover sheet on the recorded sheet to the message sheet. The attachment means can be spots of pressure sensitive adhesive preapplied in a predetermined pattern to one side of the cover sheet. The over sheet can be part of a roll or one of a pile thereof; other sides of the cover sheets have slippery surfaces to prevent the cover sheets from sticking to each other in a pile. A cutter device can be disposed to cut the message sheets one at a time from the roll of message sheet material; or it can cut both the message sheets one at a time from the roll of message sheet material; or it can cut both the message sheet and superimposed cover sheet taken from a roll thereof.

Abstract: A control circuit for a binding apparatus using a binder covers having resistance heating strips in a heat activated adhesive includes a power control to output a constant power to the heating strip. A duty cycle of the power signal supplied to the heating strip is controlled dependent upon the resistance of the strip. Fault detection circuitry indicates an open circuit in the resistance strip and interrupts the power supply. A stress test is performed by a high voltage generator which emits a high voltage pulse at the start of the binding cycle to stress the connections in the binder cover and thereby cause failure of any weak connections before the binding cycle is underway. A timer circuit is also disclosed.

Abstract: A releasable fastener, a method of fastening together a number of pieces of paper, and a dispenser carrying a supply of releasable fasteners are disclosed. In a first embodiment, a releasable fastener is disclosed which includes a first portion having front and back oppositely-facing sides which are substantially covered with an adhesive, and a second portion having front and back oppositely-facing sides which ar free of adhesive. A releasable fastener dispenser carrying a supply of releasable fasteners is also disclosed which includes a strip of carrier material, and a plurality of releasable fasteners releasably adhered to the strip of carrier material.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for binding a book utilizing a binding tape having a flexible substrate and a heat activated adhesive. The binding tape is forced against the front cover of the book utilizing a heated platen, so as to form a front cover seal simultaneously along the length of the front cover. The platen then folds the tape around the edge of the book so as to form the spine of the book. The platen then forces the remaining portion of the tape against the back cover so as to form a back cover seal simultaneously along the length of the back cover.

Abstract: Universal binding element for binding loose documents in a file, characterized in that it principally consists of an inner cover formed of a first part (2) that is intended for forming a front sheet; a second part (3) that is intended for forming a back sheet; and a third part (4) that is intended for forming a spine, which includes adhesive means (5) which are formed of glue (9, 10, 23) meltable under the influence of heat and which, when heated and subsequently cooled can provide for an adhesive connection on both the inside (6) and the outside (7) of the formed spine.

Abstract: A resilient adhesive resin tab adapted to permanently secure paper sheets thereto by edge-binding in a hot melt condition is, at one extreme side peripheral area thereof, bonded or heat-sealed to a width-adjustable backbone of a bookbinding cloth. The adhesive tab may be split, before use, along a selective one of a plurality of equally spaced, lengthwise extending slit rows, to adjust the width in conformity with a thickness of the paper sheets to be edge-bound. One of side extensions formed integrally with the backbone is larger than the other which improves applicability of this bookbinding cloth to bookbinding into a variable thick booklet by folding back the extended portion of the larger side extension in dependence upon the adjusted width of the backbone. The folded end is bonded to the larger side extension by adhesive.

Abstract: Binding element for binding loose sheets in a file, characterised in that it principally consists of a sheet (2) of relatively stiff material, that preferably shows the same dimensions as those of the documents to be bound; and a strip of glue (3), which extends past the sheet (2), installed over the whole length or over almost the whole length on the side of the sheet (2) which is destined to be placed next to the edge (6) of the bundle (5) to be bound.

Abstract: An auxiliary binder for booklets consists of an adhesive laminate configured as a bow tie or dog bone. In one embodiment of the invention, a polyester base sheet is adhesively coated and receives thereon a backing sheet having a strip die cut longitudinally thereon. Removal of the strip of the backing sheet allows positioning of the auxiliary binder, and subsequent removal of portions of the backing sheet allows the binder the be affixed to the booklet. In another embodiment of the invention, an adhesively coated base sheet receives a reinforced strip longitudinally along a center portion thereof. The reinforced strip has its own carrier and release liner which, when removed, allows the reinforcement to be adhered to a booklet. Subsequent removal of a liner covering the remainder of the adhesive of the base sheet allows the base sheet to be further secured to the booklet.

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.

Abstract: A case or cover for a hard bound book is formed by bonding the formed by bonding the cover boards to the book cover stock using a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising:(a) 10 to 40% by weight of a substantially radial styrene-butadiene block copolymer, the copolymer having a styrene content greater than about 35% by weight, a modulus at 300% elongation of at least 4.5 MPa and a solution viscosity less than about 1000 cps;(b) 20 to 65% by weight of a compatible tackifying resin;(c) 0.1 to 4% by weight stabilizer; and(d) the remainder (to 100%) comprising a plasticizing oil.

Abstract: A cover for protecting and supporting a plurality of sheets bound together with a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and bound to the cover by the tape. The cover has a binding area and a protective coating in that area where the binding tape has an adhesion force of between 200 and 700 grams per 1.27 cm width of tape according to a standard adhesion peel test. The coating may be an actual coating of low adhesion material, a film, a coated plastic film, or the cover material. The cover may include a sheet folded centrally, a truncated cover to afford attachment of a separate cover sheet, or the cover may be formed to cover only the front or back of the documents to be bound thereon.

Abstract: Method of binding loose leaf sheets together having multiple superposed punched holes while reinforcing the holes including providing a binding element having a tab portion and an elongated strip portion, affixing the tab portion to a face portion of one of the sheets and passing the strip portion through superposed holes within the sheets to be bonded at least once to bind the sheets together, and repeating the process for the remaining holes.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a system of counterfoil binding, fit in particular to classify documents in the form of loose sheets; it includes a number of thin superposed strips (2), which are bound together by any convenient means and covered, on either side, with an adhesive layer (1), characterized by the fact that the whole of the adhesive surface (1) is covered with a coating (3) in which is provided at least a line (4) of least resistance making it possible to partially remove the film (3a) as to substitute for it at least part of the loose sheet to be classified (7); in this way the sheet lies in the prolongation of the detached part (3b) of the film.

Abstract: A sheet for binding loose pages together in pamphlet form comprises a thin flexible sheet having a band of pressure sensitive adhesive coated along one longitudinal edge and protected by a release liner. The sheet permits binding the sheets easily by hand.

Abstract: A binding tape for binding the shingled edges of sheets has a supple tough and flexible nonwoven fibrous backing coated on one surface with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and with a barrier coat to seal the backing on the other surface. A low adhesion backsize is coated on the backing to permit winding or stacking strips of tape. Tabs adhered to the ends of the strips aid in locating the strips in relation to the shingled edges.

Abstract: An index sheet for a bound volume consisting of a panel of flexible material, having a width corresponding to the width of the pages of the volume, a tab on the right-hand edge of the panel to carry indicia, adhesive on the left-hand edge of the panel, and a removable cover for the adhesive which can be removed when the panel is inserted between the pages of the volume thus securing the panel in position.