Abstract: A book cover structure of the type having a spine with front and back cover structures connected to the spine and separated from the spine by scribes to enable the front and back cover structures to flex relative to the spine. A spine strip of hot metal adhesive is secured on an inside face area of the spine. Spacer means for holding sheets in engagement with the spine strip are spaced inwardly of the scribes and comprise a pair of cover strips of hot melt adhesive secured to inside surface areas of the front and back cover structures in spaced adjacency to the scribes with the scribes separating the hot melt adhesive strips on the covers from the strip of hot melt adhesive strip on the spine.

Abstract: A continuous laminating system is disclosed wherein a pair of rotating laminating rollers are provided which form a laminating nip through which a product to be laminated together with sheets of laminating film are fed and pressed. A pair of rearwardly positioned pull rollers pull the laminating film through the laminating rollers together with the product. Adjacent each laminating roller a shoe-type heating member is provided which has a concave surface adjacent the respective laminating roller and a convex heating surface positioned so that the laminating film from each of the supply rollers slides over the heating surface and is heated prior to entry into the laminating nip. A Teflon-coated fiberglass layer is provided at least over portions of the convex heating surface over which the laminating film slides. Problems of scratching of the laminating film and squealing during processing are solved according to the invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for permanently binding sheets of paper into a cover inexpensively and quickly is disclosed. The cover has a top and bottom leaf with a center fold therebetween and a folding score on each leaf near the center fold. An elongated strip of heat reactivatible adhesive is applied to the inner surface of one or both of the leaves between the folding score on the leaf and the center fold. A plurality of sheets are positioned adjacent the strip or strips of adhesive and the entire assembly is then fed into a laminator machine which heats and presses the heat reactivatible adhesive to cause it to flow back towards the sheets. As the adhesive cools the ends of the sheets are held in intimate contact between the leaves near the center fold.

Abstract: A side-opening composite looseleaf binding apparatus for attachment to a backbone of a looseleaf binder cover. The binding apparatus comprises a one-piece molded plastic base having a planar floor portion, a stationary wall portion, a hinged wall portion separated from the stationary wall portion by a floor portion, and wherein the hinged wall portion includes an integral plastic hinge. A one-piece stamped metal finger or ring unit is provided having a strip portion connected to the hinge wall portion and a plurality of curved fingers or rings extending from the strip portion. In a closed position, the curved fingers have ends which are adjacent to and below an upper edge of the stationary wall. A spring member provides an opening bias for the finger unit and a locking member locks the finger portions of the finger unit in a closed position.

Abstract: An improved motor-driven laminating machine is provided which is adapted to laminate articles by use of endless belt drive either when they are contained in prefabricated laminating packets or utilizing continuous webs of laminating material. The endless belts serve as a carrier when the laminating packets are employed.

Abstract: A prefabricated laminating packet is provided having two laminating sheets thereon with a pull tab detachably attached thereto adapted for use in laminating machines. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pull tab has a series of notches therein which serve to locate the packet within a laminating machine and also which enable the machine to work only with packets designed for that particular machine.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a longitudinally extending curved finger binding made of plastic material. The fingers are arched transversely to their longitudinal axis to provide an arched contour with a resulting increase in stiffness. A blank from which the binding is formed is heated to a temperature sufficient to soften the plastic blank. Fingers of the blank are curled and a backbone portion of the blank is curved into a closed circular plastic binding formation by use of a guide form. The guide form simultaneously curves each of the fingers transverse to their longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A folding machine for producing folds in paper sheets and the like of varying numbers and dimensions and equipped with a plurality of main rolls and adjustable roll combinations wherein each adjustable roll is adjustable independently of its associated main roll and independently of all of the other adjustable rolls and including means for providing such independent adjustment to achieve desired nip and amount of pressure between interacting rolls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for permanently binding sheets of paper into a cover inexpensively and quickly is disclosed. The cover has a top and bottom leaf with a center fold therebetween and a folding score on each leaf near the center fold. An elongated strip of heat reactivatible adhesive is applied to the inner surface of one or both of the leaves between the folding score on the leaf and the center fold. A plurality of sheets are positioned adjacent the strip or strips of adhesive and the entire assembly is then fed into a laminator machine which heats and presses the heat reactivatible adhesive to cause it to flow back towards the sheets. As the adhesive cools the ends of the sheets are held in intimate contact between the leaves near the center fold.

Abstract: A prefabricated laminating packet is provided having two laminating sheets thereon with a pull tab detachably attached thereto adapted for use in laminating machines. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pull tab has a series of notches therein which serve to locate the packet within a laminating machine and also which enable the machine to work only with packets designed for that particular machine.

Abstract: A semi-laminated security pouch for a tamper proof identification card is disclosed. The identification card to be protected by the security pouch has a glass bead security coating on a front face which provides an indication if indicia are tampered with on the face of the card. The pouch comprises front and rear film leaves with a heat reactivatable adhesive layer on the rear leaf card-facing surface. The rear surface of the card is centered against the rear leaf for lamination. The front leaf does not have a heat reactivatable adhesive layer thereon since such a layer would destroy the retroreflective visual characteristics of the glass bead security coating. The front leaf card-facing surface does, however, have the bond promoting coating thereon such that when the pouch is assembled, peripheral portions of the front leaf come in contact with peripheral portions of the rear leaf extending beyond the card edges.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the manufacture of adhesive covers in which cover material is conveyed through an apparatus wherein a hot melt adhesive is applied to selected portions of the cover material, a release agent is applied to the adhesive and the adhesive on the cover material is cooled. The apparatus includes a novel hot melt adhesive applicator which is adapted to break the string of adhesive stretching from the hot melt bead on the cover to the applicator nozzle. One embodiment of the unit involves an in-line arrangement in which individual covers are processed. Another embodiment involves an in-line arrangement in which web of cover material flows continuously through various operations and is then cut at the end into individual covers. Another embodiment involves an in-line arrangement in which a web of transparent cover material is incorporated in the process and combined with a web of cover material overlapping a portion of the latter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a small laminating machine which is primarily designed to laminate identification cards and the like with heat sealable packets of a special configuration. The packets to be used with the machine consist preferably of two sheets of Mylar film coated with polyethylene on the facing sides and attached to a tear-off tab.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing a laminated sheet wherein a thin film laminate is provided which is formed of a thin film laminating or substrate sheet with a heat reactivatible adhesive layer on one side thereof to produce a combined thickness of 11/2 to 3 mils. On the other side of the laminating or substrate sheet a paper carrier sheet is adhesively attached for stiffening the thin film laminating sheet. The thin film laminate or substrate is folded to form a pouch and the sheet to be laminated is placed therebetween. The pouch is then processed in an oven-type laminator to produce the laminated sheet with attached carrier sheet. Finally, the carrier sheet is stripped away to produce the final product. By use of an integral carrier sheet, the relatively thin film laminating sheets may be conveniently used in conventional oven laminators without the need for special supporting techniques.

Abstract: An improved rainshed binder is disclosed for protecting a book from environmental weather conditions. The binder has first and second covers each of which have rainshed protecting walls connected to inside surface side edges of the covers. An integral binder backbone connects the first and second covers. The backbone has a pair of linear polyethylene hinges positioned inwardly of outer rigid, non-flexible corners of the backbone. The backbone connects in integral manner with the first and second covers at the rigid corners. An attachment plate secures the book to be protected to the backbone between the flexible hinges. The rigid corners of the backbone are free to flex relative to the book attachment plate by the provision of the hinges. The binder is designed to hang downwardly in closed fashion when the book is not in use.

Abstract: Method of making a removable spiral plastic binder which is designed to be received into a channel member. The channel member is mounted to the backbone of a book cover. The removable binding, which is slidably received in the channel member, has a plurality of curled loops for retaining paper leaflets such as sheets of blank checks to the book cover. The removable binding has retaining tabs extending from a base portion below the loops. The tabs are bent such that they all lie substantially in the same plane to facilitate sliding of the binding into the channel member. The removable binding including the retaining tabs, base portion and curled loops is formed from a single, contiguous sheet of plastic material.

Abstract: A lamination trimming device is disclosed for trimming excess laminating film along edges of a laminated card or sheet product. The trimming is performed such that a border of sealed laminating film remains along edges of the product. The device includes lower and upper guide members between which the laminating film is retained. A cutting blade is positioned above an upper guide member for trimming off the excess film and a deflecting surface is provided on a lower guide member for guiding the device along edges of the laminated product and for deflecting the excess laminated film to be trimmed. Both straight and curved surfaces may be trimmed with the device disclosed herein.

Abstract: A removable plastic binding system is disclosed including a channel member and a removable plastic binding receivable in the channel member. The channel member is mounted to the backbone of a book cover. The removable binding, which is slidably received in the channel member, has a plurality of curled loops for retaining paper leaflets such as sheets of blank checks to the book cover. The removable binding has retaining tabs extending from a base portion below the loops. The tabs are bent such that they all lie substantially in the same plane to facilitate sliding of the binding into the channel member. The removable binding including the retaining tabs, base portion and curled loops is formed from a single, contiguous sheet of plastic material.

Abstract: An inexpensive heat sealable tag having a pressure sensitive attachment means formed as part thereof is provided. The tag can be used for a variety of purposes such as the identification of luggage and the like, an instruction sheet attached to an instrument and for many other purposes.