Abstract: A semi-automatic binder is disclosed which incorporates a conveyor for transporting a preformed length of double wire binder to a loading station. The loading station incorporates a unique support arrangement whereby the free ends of the double wire binder are presented for quick and easy manual assembly thereto of sheets to be bound. The thus assembled sheets and binder are then moved to a closing station employing an adjustable pressure bar operative to close the double wire binder. Both the support arrangement and pressure bar are readily adjustable to enable the binder of the present invention to accommodate a wide variety of sizes of double wire binders.

Abstract: A device for use in conjunction with a sheet group separator of the type having a rotating slotted disk supporting a stack, together with a depressor for the lowermost group, and a finger for separating a corner of said group from the stack. The device comprises a vertically slidable weight at said stack corner so that a constant downward pressure is exerted to prevent upward curling of the corner which might reduce the effectiveness of the finger and depressor movements. A counterweighted pressure bar is pivotally mounted at the lower end of the weight so that placing additional sheets on the stack will not interfere with the operation. The weight is reset by pulling upwardly on a handle so that the pressure bar swings away to clear the new sheets and is swung back into position by the counterweight.

Abstract: A high speed machine which successively removes unbound book pad strips from the bottom of a stack and feeds them toward a glueing machine. The feeder is adapted for different strip sizes including larger sizes and comprises stack guide device disposed above synchronized, rotating, slotted discs which support the forward edge of the stack bottom. The strips in the stack are provided with cardboard separators therebetween and a knife enters the stack bottom and lifts all except the lowermost strip to permit the leading edge of the first slotted disc to enter. The rotating discs progressively push the leading edge of the lowermost strip downwardly past a group of rollers. These rollers, which are movably mounted, are then depressed to press the lowermost strip against an endless belt. The belt carries the stack to a rotating carriage which will deposit the stack in the glueing machine.

Abstract: A method and machine for feeding plastic thread from a bulk spool, forming the thread into a spiral configuration, and inserting the spiral into a perforated sheet group so that it may be cut and bent to form a spiral binder. The machine and process is continuous and includes a first section in which the thread is softened as it moves around a mandrel, a second section where the formed thread is cooled and a final section at which the coil is fed into a perforated sheet group.

Abstract: A method and construction for binding wide groups of sheets such as calendars so that they may be opened without sheet offset and completely folded back. The method comprises the steps of forming a series of elongated openings along one edge of the sheet group, providing flat binding strips, and feeding the binder strips toward the apertures while simultaneously deforming the binding strips just before they enter the apertures so as to cause them to have a coiled shape, whereby the binding strips will be fed in curved fashion through the apertures and their ends will overlap to form individual circular coils.

Abstract: A pair of die rolls of novel construction are disclosed which act upon a continuous wire having a preliminary zig zag formation in order to impact the bends in the wire and thus narrow the formation, preparatory to use of the wire as a ring binder. Each roll has a continuous spiral groove with a first section of progressively narrowing width which is substantially wider than the wire bend which it accommodates, and a second section of constant width. A knob or projection is formed on at least one side wall of the groove in each roll at the juncture of the first and second sections, which impacts the wire bend as it passes, giving it a set.

Abstract: A system for forming zigzag wire binder material in a continuous strip, storing the strip as it leaves the forming station, and severing lengths as needed at an adjacent station at which the binder lengths are inserted in books. The invention permits the binder strip forming mechanism and the binder cutting and inserting unit to be at a single location because the storage mechanism placed between these two units is responsive to speed differences between the strip forming and binder inserting units to temporarily stop one unit or the other until the length of binder strip in the storage unit is brought within a certain range. The inserting unit has novel means for forcing the opposite ends of the binder loops into the book holes, making the unit especially useful for heavy count books. This novel inserting means includes two series of pins which move in opposite directions to force the loops into the holes.

Abstract: A system for perforating the edges and then spiral binding relatively thick books at a rapid rate. The system overcomes the relative difficulty of perforating, as compared with spiral binding, thick books by splitting the path for the perforating step into two paths and perforating simultaneously on both paths. The perforated books are then placed on a transverse leg of the system so that they combine into a single row which is fed to the spiral binder.

Abstract: A machine for feeding and simultaneously binding pairs of relatively small spiral wire bound pads. Groups of sheets of twice the final desired size are fed serially to a station where they are split and separated. Pairs of the split pads are then fed through a conventional coil binding machine having stations where they are successively aligned and receive a single spiral binder while in side-by-side and slightly spaced relationship. At the next station cutter means are provided for simultaneously trimming and inwardly bending both the outer and the inner ends of the binders of both pads. The two trim-cutting and bending assemblies for the outer ends are of conventional construction having a fixed cutter member and a movable blade operated by a cam with a diagonal slot. The trim-cutting and bending assembly for the inner ends however is of novel construction, comprising two fixed cutter members carried by a single arm and spring-urged movable cutter blades actuated by a V-shaped cam on another arm.