Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for preparing a preprinted book cover for application to a book block in a perfect binding system A double-walled tubular attachment strip is adhesively attached to the cover spine portion of successive covers in a continuous process. Covers are fed onto a conveyor at a constant speed with a spacing between covers and adhesives is applied to the spine areas. Simultaneously a continuous double-walled attachment strip with a longitudinal lap joint in one wall is formed without adhesive from a source of paper web stock and pressed, lap joint down, onto the cover spines to form a continuous string of covers. The attachment strip is cut by laser cutting beam between each cover while the covers are moving. The double-walled attachment strip is formed by pulling the web under constant tension through side scoring wheels, hold-down shoes, and forming devices which have surfaces to fold the edges of the moving web through 180.degree.

Abstract: A rear entry collator which includes one or more sheet receiver bins in which sheets may be assembled in a non-inverted surface orientation with respect to the surface orientation thereof when accepted at infeed. Return sheet feed to a copier may be provided to effect duplex copying separately or in combination with sheet assembly in the receiver bins.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for winding thermoplastic coated strands into a composite cable wherein the strands are first twisted around one another into a cable and then heat is applied to melt the thermoplastic coating. A plurality of rotatably mounted spools of thermoplastic coated strands are rotated about a common axis while the strands are pulled from the spools. The strands are drawn together by a collimating means and then passed through a heating means before being wound onto a take-up spool.

Abstract: The cable includes continuous glass filaments which are helically plied in rovings at a constant helical angle from cable center to outer surface and bonded together in elastomeric material. When heated, thermal elongation of the filaments is opposed by simultaneous radially directed thermal volumetric expansion of the elastomeric material. Thus, with respect to overall cable length, thermal elongation of the cable is opposed by a simultaneous increase in cable cross sectional area such that thermal elongation effects are controllable, dependent upon the thermal expansion properties of the filament and elastomeric materials used, by controlling the helical angle at which the filaments are plied to obtain either expanding, contracting or constant length cables, as desired. Thermal contraction effects produced by cooling the cable also are controllable by controlling the helical angle.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a reciprocative side edge jogger for aligning the side edges of multiple sheet stacks in a column through movement with respect to the sheet side edges along a rectilinear path perpendicular thereto. The apparatus additionally includes a movable end edge jogger. The sheets are aligned against side and end edge backstops, which respectively oppose the side and end edge joggers. In one preferred embodiment, the side and end edge joggers are driven by a single motor. In a second preferred embodiment, the side and end edge joggers are driven by separate motors.

Abstract: The book cover applicator is suitable for use in applying covers to multiple sheet fillers which have been secured together along the spine by a hotmelt adhesive. The applicator comprises means for holding the filler and cover at a bonding station and bonding means mounted adjacent the bonding station, the bonding means including a heater bar for applying heat to melt the hotmelt adhesive, and a set bar for holding the cover square up against the filler and conducting heat away from the adhesive for a fast and perfect set. The hotmelt adhesive provides a strong, flexible bond between the filler spine and the cover.

Abstract: The sheets in a column of compartments of a sorter, collator or the like are jogged to align their edges. An endless belt is moved past a glue dispenser to coat a length of the belt corresponding to the number of compartments to be covered. The belt is then moved into engagement with the edges of the sheets in those compartments to deposit the adhesive on the edges. The operation is then intermittently repeated along the edges of the sheets to bond the desired extent of the length of the edges. A jogging mechanism aligns and holds the edges in alignment for binding.

Abstract: The sheet binding apparatus is comprised of a movable binder assembly including an endless belt and an elongated heat application platen underlying one belt run. The belt is coated with a hot-melt adhesive, which, when heated by the platen, is applied by the belt to the co-planar sheet edges of one or more stacks of sheets assembled within individual bins of a collator. A belt lifting assembly controls heat transfer between the platen and belt by appropriate positioning of the belt with respect to the platen. The binder assembly is movable reciprocatively toward a sheet contacting binding position along a path perpendicular to the coplanar sheet edges. That assembly is further movable reciprocatively toward one or more additional binding positions along a path parallel to the coplanar sheet edges. In a second preferred embodiment, the binder assembly is swung along the first path by lost motion hinges.

Abstract: A hotmelt adhesive composition and a method of applying it to bind sheets. The composition comprises by weight 30% to 40% of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, 25% to 35% of a wax, 20% to 40% of a modified rosin and 10% to 30% of a tackifier. The method of binding sheets comprises aligning the sheet edges, compressing the aligned sheets a short distance from the edges and contacting the edges with the adhesive composition.

Abstract: The jogger includes side edge joggers in combination with an end edge jogger and a resilient sheet stop, both extending the height of a vertical column of sheet receiving compartments. The sheet stop engages and positions the sheets within the sheet receiving compartments in preparation for jogging without damage to the end edges. Thereafter, the side and end joggers align the sheet edges against respectively opposed backstops. The jogger provides simultaneous edge alignment of all four edges of stacked sheets within the sheet receiving compartments and is especially suited for use in conjunction with sheet binding apparatus for simultaneously binding the stacked sheets along corresponding coplanar edges.

Abstract: The sheets in a column of compartments of a sorter, collator or the like are jogged to align their edges. An endless belt is moved past a glue dispenser to coat a length of the belt corresponding to the number of compartments to be covered. The belt is then moved into engagement with the edges of the sheets in those compartments to deposit the adhesive on the edges. The operation is then intermittently repeated along the edges of the sheets to bond the desired extent of the length of the edges. A jogging mechanism aligns and holds the edges in alignment for binding.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable infeed conveyor section for the conveyor system of a sheet sorting device. The sheet sorting device is of the type having side-by-side vertical columns of bins with distributor means for directing individual sheets or groups of sheets of paper in series to the individual bins. The infeed conveyor section receives sheets of paper or the like from a sheet feeder, a duplicator, or printing press and delivers them to the conveyor system of the sorter. The infeed conveyor section is adjustable vertically to adapt itself to any height of sheet feeder or duplicator. The in-feed conveyor section includes a horizontal initial section, an inclined transition section, and a delivery section having a vertical run to which the transition section extends. In a second preferred embodiment, the transition section extends directly to the upper terminous of the delivery section vertical run.

Abstract: The sheet jogging mechanism is comprised of a pivotally movable articulated arm including pivotally interconnected forward and rear arm sections. As the rear arm section is swung toward the side of a loosely formed stack of sheets, the forward arm section is moved progressively from a parallel to a convergent orientation relative to the side of the sheet stack until a jogging rod mounted on the front end thereof engages one side of the sheet stack. As the rear arm section is swung further toward the sheet stack, the forward arm section pivots relative thereto and toward the side of the sheet stack until again assuming a parallel orientation relative to the sheet stock so as to bring a second jogging rod mounted on the rear end thereof into engagement with the one side of the sheet stack.

Abstract: A composite glass fiber cable is disclosed having a negative linear coefficient of thermal expansion which is controllable by variation of the .Iadd.helical angle or angles of .Iaddend.twist of helically plied glass roving to substantially zero change in length over a wide variation in environmental temperatures under varying load conditions. .Iadd.It is possible, by controlling the helical angle and maintaining it constant from the cable center to outer surface, to control thermal elongation effects on the cable to obtain either expanding, contracting or constant length cables over a wide temperature range. .Iaddend.

Abstract: A device for jogging or laterally tapping a loosely formed stack of sheets in order to form neat piles in receiving bins having a plurality of vertical rows of shelves. A jogging rod periodically is activated to move the stack of sheets located upon the shelves against a uniform backing device assuring a vertical stack, the jogging rod is movable to a position allowing access to the shelves from the side having the jogging mechanism.