Handling of sheet material

Abstract

Apparatus for handling sheet material comprising an array of punches (1) all in side-by-side relationship, an a corresponding array of dies (4) arranged opposite the array of punches (1). The arrays of punches and dies are operable to punch a row of holes in a marginal portion of a wad of sheets, card or the like, typically for subsequent binding on a comb, wire or spiral type binder or the like. During operation to punch apertures through the wad of sheets (6) the dies (4) are initiated to perform a forward stroke toward the (fixed) punches (1), thereby pinching the wad of paper between the tip (2) of punches (1) and the dial . . . of dies (4) therefor punching apertures through a wad of sheets (6). Following the forward stroke, the stroke direction of dies (4) is reversed, and dies (4) are pulled away from punches (2) towards their original retracted position in which the tips (2) of punches (1) are spaced from die apertures (3)). When the reverse stroke of dies (4) is completed, the wad of punched sheets (6) remains in position on the punches (1), such that punches (2) extend through the newly punched apertures and the wad of sheets (6), so that successive wads of sheets (6) can be introduced into the receiving zone between the tips (2) of punches (1) and the respective die apertures (3) of dies (4), permitting a number of successive wads of sheets (6) to be effectively lowered punches (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to handling of sheet material, and in particular to the handling of wads or stacks of sheet material for punching and typically for subsequent binding on for example a comb, wire or spiral type binder.

[0002] Apparatus for punching a series of spaced apertures in stacks or wads of separate sheets (such as paper or card sheets) is known. Such apparatus which includes an arrangement for subsequently securing the wad or stack of sheets on a binding comb is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4008501.

[0003] I have devised an improved apparatus and method for such a purpose.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for handling a wad of sheet material, the apparatus having a punch arrangement including:

[0005] i) an elongate punch element;

[0006] ii) a die element having a die opening alignable with the punch element, the die element and punch element being movable relative to one another between a retracted position, in which the tip of the punch element is spaced from the die opening, and an advanced position in which the tip of the punch element is passed into the die opening; and

[0007] iii) a stripper element movable relative to the punch element independently of relative movement of the die element and punch element between the retracted and advanced positions.

[0008] The marginal portion of a wad of sheet material is desirably introduced into a receiving zone defined in the gap between the tip of the punch element and the die opening (when in the retracted position). The die element is preferably advanced relative to the punch such that the punch element remains substantially stationary.

[0009] The die element preferably moves relative to the punch element in reciprocating fashion from a start point in the retracted position, to a mid-point in the advanced position, on to an end point in the retracted position Actuation means is provided to enable actuation of the reciprocation cycle. The actuation means may be manual (such as a lever or handle) operable manually when the wad of sheets is in position in the wad receiving zone. Alternatively, the actuation means may be automatic (such as an electromechanical actuator) either actuated by an appropriate initiation switch or automatically from sensing the positioning of the wad in the wad receiving zone.

[0010] The apparatus preferably includes a limit stop (which may be adjustable) arranged to limit the insertion distance of the marginal position of the wad into the wad receiving zone.

[0011] The punch element is preferably arranged to extend in a direction transverse to the vertical. The punch element and die element are preferably configured such that the General plane of the wad of sheets is substantially upright when the wad is inserted into the receiving zone between the tip of the punch element and the die opening of the die element.

[0012] According to a second aspect, the invention provides a method of handling a wad of sheets, the method comprising punching the wad of sheets by:

[0013] i) inserting a marginal portion of the wad into a receiving zone between the tip of a punch element and a die aperture of a die element;

[0014] ii) effecting advance and reverse strokes of the die element and punch element to punch a hole in the wad of sheets, the wad of sheets remaining positioned on the punch element following completion of the reverse strokes.

[0015] It is preferred that following completion of the reverse stroke a further wad of sheets is introduced into the receiving zone between the tip of a punch element and a die aperture of a die element, further advance and reverse stroke of the die element and punch element being effected to punch a hole in the further wad of sheets, the first and further wads of sheets remaining positioned on the punch element following completion of the further reverse stroke.

[0016] Desirably, following completion of the first or further reverse stroke, the wad of sheets is removed from the punch element (via the tip of the punch element), preferably being transferred to a binder element. The binder element is desirably provided with at least one Retaining element configured to pass through the co-aligned punched apertures in the wad of sheets. Such a retaining element may, for example, be in the nature of a comb, wile or spiral type binder.

[0017] The wad of sheets is preferably removed from the punch element by a stripper element movable to strip the wad of punched sheets from the punch element. The stripper element is preferably carried with, or more preferably carried by, the die element, desirably being movable along the punch element. The stripper element is preferably movable along the punch element toward the tip element in order to facilitate removal of the wad of sheets: from the punch element Desirably the actuation of the stripper element to cause the latter to move, and thereby to strip the wad of sheets from the punch element, may be independent of actuation of the hole-punching forward and retraction stroke of the punch and die elements.

[0018] The apparatus may comprise a plurality, array or multiplicity of punch elements, one or more of which may be retractable or removable, and corresponding cooperating die elements, preferably arranged in side by side relationship so as to permit punching of a corresponding plurality, array or multiplicity of apertures through the marginal portion of the wad of sheets.

[0019] It is often difficult to insert a binding element, such as a wire, comb or spiral binding element, through the apertures in the marginal portion of the wad of sheets because they are arranged in a substantially vertical plane. This is especially true when the wad of sheets is relatively thick, e.g. 15-20 mm or more.

[0020] Thus in accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a radius former comprising level finding means movable substantially perpendicularly relative to the plane of a wad of sheet material, said perpendicular movement being effected by rotational movement of a dial or the like, the dial being linked to gear means to convert rotational movement of said dial into linear movement of said level finding means, the radius former further comprising a resiliently flexible, generally arcuate element, the radius of said arcuate element; being alterable by rotational movement of said dial.

[0021] The radius former of the third aspect of the present invention is preferably mounted on the apparatus of the first (or the apparatus used to perform the method of the second) aspect of the invention.

[0022] The dial preferably includes indicator means for indicating the size of binding element required to bind said wad of sheet material, said size being determined at the point where the level binding means is at least nearly in contact with the wad of sheet material.

[0023] Also in accordance with the third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of displacing respective edges of sheet material in a wad of sheet material relative to each other so that an edge of said wad of Sheet material is generally arcuate in profile, the method comprising the steps of providing a radium former as defined above, positioning the wad of sheet material relative to said linearly moveable element, rotating said rotary element until said linearly moveable element is, at least nearly in contact with said wad of sheet material, and pushing the respective edges of said sheet material into said generally arcuate element, so that said edges abut said arcuate element and the wad of sheet material has a corresponding arcuate edge in profile.

[0024] Thus, because the edge of the wad of sheet material is arcuate (and the line of the apertures punched in a marginal edge thereof is also arcuate, the ease with which a binding element, such as a wire, comb or spiral binding element can be inserted is greatly increased, particularly for relatively thick wads of sheet material.

[0025] Another aspect of the present invention relates to binding of sheet material, and in particular a method and apparatus for loading a wad or stack of paper onto a curled finger binding element (for example, of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3583557 or European patent specification 0504961)

[0026] Arrangements for loading wads of paper or the like onto such curled finger binding elements are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. 5464312. In the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 546312, the spine having the curled, spaced fingers is held on a first face of the wad of pages to be bound, a plurality of the fingers is then inserted through a series of holes in a marginal edge of the stack, and the free ends of the curled fingers are engaged with the guide fingers, followed by opening the curled fingers relative to the spine element. The free ends of the curled fingers are then driven through the holes from a first face of the wad a second face of the wad, where they come into engagement with the spine element to form a series of essentially closed rings, each ring encompassing a respective hole in the wad.

[0027] It will be appreciated that this known method involves aligning the series of curled fingers of the binding elements with the series of holes in the stack or wad, prior to driving the free ends of the fingers through the holes.

[0028] I have now devised an improved method for such a purpose and an improved method of feeding such comb elements onto a wad or stack of perforated sheets.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the invention, therefore, there is provided a method of binding using a binder comb member, of the type having a transverse spine and curled spaced apart fingers which are arranged to form rings, onto a wad or stack of sheet material, the method comprising)

[0030] (a) providing a wad or stack of sheet material having a series of spaced holes in a marginal edge region thereof;

[0031] b) providing a ramp member having a narrower end and a wider end, the wider end being adjacent the end of the marginal edge region having the series of spaced holes,

[0032] c) feeding the comb member progressively from said narrower end of said ramp to said wider end thereof, such that said fingers separate from said transverse-spline as the comb member progresses along the ramp member;

[0033] d) continuing feeding the comb member such that said comb member moves substantially along the marginal edge region; and

[0034] e) permitting ends of the curled fingers; to penetrate the series of holes such that the fingers resume the curled configuration and bind the stack to the comb member

[0035] It is preferred that the direction of feed of the comb member along the ramp member is substantially co-linear with the direction of feed of the comb member along the marginal edge region.

[0036] The comb member may be provided in a magazine which permits successive dispensing of individual ones of the comb members for successive individual binding operations.

[0037] The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0038] FIGS. 1 to 7 are schematic explanatory representations showing use of apparatus according to the invention in performance of the method according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 8 is a partial plan view of apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, illustrating the configuration of the punches;

[0040] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a binder comb member of generally known type for use according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation stowing a ramp and a wad of paper suitable for use in a method according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 11 shows an intermediate stage, subsequent to that shown in FIG. 2 in the method illustrated;

[0043] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the final stage of the method of FIG. 3; and

[0044] FIG. 13 shows a final bound wad of paper or the like, achieved by the method according to the invention.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the apparatus illustrated comprises an array of punches 1 all in side-by-side relationship, and a corresponding array of dies 4 arranged opposite the array of punches 1. The arrays of punches and dies are open le to punch a row of holes in a marginal portion of a wad of sheets of paper, card or the like, typically for subsequent binding on a comb, wire or spiral type binder or the like. For ease of explanation, FIGS. 1 to 5 show a single punch 1 and cooperating partner die 4

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, an elongate cylindrical punch 1 has a tip 2 co-aligned with die opening 3 of a die 4. In the retracted (normal) position shown in FIG. 1, a receiving zone is defined, between the tip 2 of punch 1 and die opening 3 of die 4, for receiving a wad of paper sheets 6 arranged with the general plane of tie sheets in an upward direction.

[0047] Elongate punch 1 carries a stripper blade 5 provided with an aperture for mounting on the punch 1. The mounting of stripper blade 5 on punch 1 is such that the stripper blade can selectively be moved, sliding along the length of the punch. Typically the stripper blade will be of rake-like construction, having tines extending from a spine, the tines lying either side of punches 1 in the array.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, during operation to punch an aperture through the wad of sheets 6, the die 4 is initiated to perform a forward stroke toward the (fixed punch, thereby pinching the wad of paper between the tip of punch 1 and the die opening of die 4, and therefore punching an aperture through the wad of sheets 6. As die 4 performs its forward stroke, the punch 1 is received within the bore 7 of die 4, and the wad of sheets is urged by the die 4 to slide along the outer circumferential surface of punch 1 towards the stripper blade 5.

[0049] Following the forward stroke as shown in FIG. 2, the stroke direction of die 4 is reversed, and the die 4 is pulled away from punch 2 towards its original retracted position (in which the tip of punch 2 is spaced from die aperture 3).

[0050] An important feature of the invention compared to prior art punch arrangements is that when the reverse stroke of die 4 is completed, the wad of punched sheets 6 remains in position on the punch 1, such that punch 1 extends through the newly punched apertures in the wad of sheets 6. This provides that successive wads of sheets 6 can be introduced into the receiving zone between the tip 2 of punch 1 and the respective die aperture 3 of die 4, permitting a number of successive wads of sheets, 6 to be effectively loaded onto punch 1. A situation in which successive wads of sheets have been loaded onto punch 1, and die 4 returned to its retracted position (following successive series of forward and reverse strokes) is shown in FIG. 3.

[0051] The facility to load successive wads onto punch 2 enables a greater depth of wad to be subsequently, simultaneously removed from punch 1 by selective operator of the stripper blade (moving in a direction toward tip 2 of punch 1) as shown in FIG. 4. The punching and loading arrangement described can be used in conjunction with binding apparatus in which following ultimate retraction of die 4, a binder component 9 may be co-aligned with the tip to punch 1 providing that when stripper blade 5 is actuated to unload the wad of sheets 6 from punch 2, the wad is loaded directly onto the binder component 9.

[0052] As described above, in most practical situations, the punch arrangement is likely to include a plurality or array of punches 1 arranged in side by side relationship. Operation of the punches 1 and dies 4 is coordinated to ensure-forward and rearward strokes in unison, as is conventional is for known punch apparatus. The invention is particularly suited for use in conventional comb, wire element or spiral binders in which a multiplicity of holes are punched in side by side relationship along the margin of a wad of sheets 6 for subsequent loading onto the co-aligned elements of a plastic comb, wire element or spiral binder.

[0053] The apparatus therefore may beneficially include a binding station permitting loading of the punched wad of sheets onto a binder. The binding station is preferably configured to permit direct loading onto the binder from the array of punches. Relative movement is preferably facilitated between the binding station and the array of punches between an in-line position (in which the binding station is positioned directly adjacent the array of punches) and an out-of-line position (in which the punching operation is permitted).

[0054] By arranging the punch 2 and bore 7 of the die 4 substantially horizontally, and introducing the wad of sheets 6 in an upright orientation, the propensity for the punched wad of sheets 6 to remain on the lunch 7 following the forward and reverse strokes of the die may be enhanced.

[0055] In use, when an operator has punched as many separate wads sheets 6 as required, the stripper is operated, causing all sheets to be stripped at once. This allows the operator to reduce the number of physical movements in the punching cycle, because it is not necessary to extract the punched pages following each forward and reverse stroke and either store them or thread the smaller wads onto a binds element.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a further stage of a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this arrangement, the wad 6 is supported by the stripper blade 5 after die 4 has been retracted in the direction of arrow A. A clamp or compression plate 20 is provided to clamp the wad 6 onto the blade 5, to prevent movement of the wad 6 and keep the holes in register. The blade 5 is then pivoted about fulcrum 12 in the direction of arrow B, until the blade 5 and the wad 6 supported by the blade 5 are in a generally horizontal plane, with the punched holes 13 remaining in register. At this point, a wire binding element 14 can be inserted through the registered holes.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawings, which shows a further stage of a preferred embodiment of the invention, a radius former 30 may be provided which is used to displace the sheets of the wad 6 relative to each other so as to form an arcuate edge of the wad, as shown..

[0058] Referring to FIG. 7A, the radius former 30 comprises a rotating dial 32 linked to a gear wheel (not shown) and a levelling element 34. The levelling element 34 is raised and lowered by rotation of the dial 32 (which rotates the gear wheel), which operation is effected by a worm and/or bevel gear arrangement (not shown). Mounted between the gear wheel and the levelling element 34 is a sheet 50 of thin spring steel foil The sheet 50 is held in an arcuate shape as shown.

[0059] In use, the wad 6 is clamped on and supported by the blade 5 which is pivoted about fulcrum 12, as explained above The levelling element 34 is lowered by :rotating the dial 32,.until the element 34 is nearly in contact with the wad 6. Numbers on the dial 32 indicate the size of binding element 13 required. In addition, as the dial 32 is rotated to lower the levelling element 34, the sheet 50 is wrapped around the gear arrangement to reduce the size of the arc 52. When the levelling element 34 is nearly in contact with the top of the wad 6, the edge of the wad 6 having the holes 13 is pushed (manually) towards the arcuate sheet 50 so that the opposite edge of the wad 6 abuts the inner surface of the sheet So and assumes its arcuate profile. Consequently, the edge of the wad 6, having the holes 13 assumes a concave arcuate profile, as shown in FIG. 7. This greatly increases the ease with which a binding element, such as a wire, comb or spiral element, can be threaded through the holes. The arrangement is such that the sheet 50 always forms a perfect arc or semi-circle irrespective of the position of the levelling element 34.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawings, in one preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a plurality of punches 2, arranged in parallel and spaced relation, each of the punches 2 being individually removably fixed to a plate 50 by means of, for example, shoulder bolts 52. Thus, one or more of the pinches 2 can be removed or retracted to give any desired configuration of holes 13.

[0061] A plate 54 is provided in the die opening 3, which plate drops out of the way when the holes 13 are being punched, i.e., when the die 4 is initiated to perform a forward stroke towards the punches 2, and springs, back up between the punches 2 and the die 4 when the die 4 is pulled away from the punches 2 towards its original retracted position.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 8, portions 54a of the plate 54 are angled towards the punches 2, with the positions of the tips of the punches 2 being angled accordingly.

[0063] A ramp (not shown) may be provided oil the blade 5 to facilitate the method of binding the wad 6 or stack of sheet material according to a preferred embodiment of the further aspect of the invention.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a comb 101 having a series of curled finger elements 102 mounted on a longitudinally extending spine 103. As shown in FIG. 9, the comb has eleven curled finger elements.

[0065] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, these show a ramp 104 in the form of a wedge or inclined plane being positioned adjacent the end of a wad 105 of sheets of paper (adjacent to the end of a marginal edge having a series of holes or apertures 106 in a marginal edge 107—see FIG. 12. Each of the holes or apertures is intended to receive a corresponding finger element 102 of the comb.

[0066] FIG. 11 shows the combs being dispensed from the edge of a magazine box 108, in which several further combs substantially identical to combs 101 are stored.

[0067] In use, the combs are fed in the direction of arrow A (see FIG. 10) such that the finger elements 102 progressively open away from the spine 101 and slide along the marginal edge 107 to a position shown in FIG. 12. The finger elements 102 can then all move in concert such that each fits into a respective hole 106 into the final binding position shown in FIG. 13.

[0068] The method is advantageous and simpler compared to the conventional method of transversely moving all the fingers relative to the spine, and causing them all to close around the margin and grip in the manner of a pair of jaws as all the holes are penetrated by a respective finger.

Claims

1. Apparatus for handling a wad of sheet material, the apparatus having a punch arrangement including

i) an elongate punch element;

ii) a die element having a die opening alignable with the punch element, the die element and punch element being movable relative to one another between a retracted position, in which the tip of the punch element is spaced from the die opening, and an advanced position in which the tip of the punch element is passed into the die opening; and

iii) a stripper element movable relative to the punch element independently of relative movement of the die element and punch element between the retracted and advanced positions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the marginal portion of a wad of sheet material is introduced into a receiving zone defined in the gap between the tip of the punch element and the die opening (when in the retracted position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the die element is advanced relative to the punch such that the punch element remains substantially stationary.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the die element moves relative to the punch element in reciprocating fashion from a start point in the retracted position, to a mid-point in the advanced position, on to an end point in the retracted position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, comprising actuation means to enable actuation of the reciprocation cycle.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the actuation means is manual (such as a lever ox handle) operable manually when the wad of sheets is in position in the wad receiving zone.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the actuation means is automatic (such as an electromechanical actuator) either actuated by an appropriate initiation switch or automatically from sensing the positioning of the wad in the wad receiving zone.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims including a limit stop (which may be adjustable) arranged to limit the insertion distance of a marginal portion of the wad into the wad receiving zone.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the punch element: is arranged to extend in a direction transverse to the vertical.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the punch element and die element are configured such that the general plane of the wad of sheets is substantially upright when the wad is inserted into the receiving zone between the tip of the punch element and the die opening of the die element.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality, array or multiplicity of punch elements, one or more of which may be retractable or removable, and Corresponding cooperating die elements, preferably arranged side by side relationship so as to permit punching of a corresponding plurality, array or multiplicity of apertures through the marginal portion of the wad of sheets.

12. Apparatus for handling a wad of sheet material, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of handling a wad of sheets, the method comprising punching the wad of sheets by;

i) inserting a marginal portion of the wad into a receiving zone between the tip of a punch-element and a die aperture of a die element;

ii) effecting advance and reverse Strokes of the die element and punch element to punch a hole in the wad of sheets, the wad of sheets remaining positioned on the punch element following completion of the reverse stroke.

14. A method according to claim 13, in which following completion of the reverse stroke a further wad of sheets is introduced into the receiving zone between the tip of the punch element and a die aperture of a die element, further advance and reverse stroke of the die element and punch element being effected to punch a hole in the further wad of sheets, the first and further wads of sheets remaining positioned on the punch element following completion of the further reverse stroke.

15. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14, in which, following completion of the first or further reverse stroke, the wad of sheets is removed from the punch element (via the tip of the punch element), preferably being transferred to a binder element

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the binder element is provided with at least one retaining element configured to pass through the co-aligned punched apertures in the wad of sheets, said retaining element being, for example, in the nature of a comb, wire or spiral type binder.

17. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wad of sheets is removed from the punch element by a stripper element movable to strip the wad of punched sheets from the punch element.

18. A method according to claim 17, whereby the stripper element is carried with, or more preferably carried by, the die element, desirably being movable along the punch element.

19. A method according to claim 18, in which the stripper element is movable along the punch element toward the tip element in order to facilitate removal of the wad of sheets from the punch element.

20. A method according to claim 19, in which the actuation of the stripper element causes the latter to move, and thereby to strip the wad of sheets from the punch element independent of actuation of the hole-punching forward and retraction stroke of the punch and die elements.

21. A method of handling a wad of sheets substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A radius former comprising level finding means movable substantially perpendicularly relative to the plane of a wad of sheet material; said perpendicular movement being effected by rotational movement of a dial or the like, the dial being linked to gear means to convert rotational movement of said dial into linear movement of said level finding means, the radius former further comprising a resiliently flexible, generally arcuate element, the radius of said arcuate element being alterable by rotational movement of said dial.

23. A radius former according to claim 22, being mounted on the apparatus of claim 1 (or the apparatus used to perform the method of claim 13).

24. A radius former according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the dial includes indicator means for indicating the size of binding element required to bind said wad of sheet material, said size being determined at the point where the level binding means is at least nearly in contact with the wad of sheet material.

25. A radius former substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. A method of displacing respective edges of sheet material in a wad of sheet material relative to each other so that an edge of said wad of sheet material is generally arcuate in profile, the method comprising the steps of providing a radium former as defined above, positioning the wad of sheet material relative to said linearly movable element, rotating said rotary element untils aid linearly movable element is, at least nearly in contact with said wad of sheet material, and pushing the respective edges of said sheet material into said generally arcuate element, so that said edges abut said arcuate element and the wad of sheet material has a corresponding arcuate edge in profile.

27. A method of binding using a binder comb member, of the type having a transverse spine and curled spaced apart fingers which are arranged to form rings, onto a wad or stack of sheet material, the method comprising:

a) providing a wad or stack of sheet material having a series of spaced holes in a marginal edge region thereof;

b) providing a ramp member having a narrower end and a wider end, the wider end being adjacent the end of the marginal edge region having the series of spaced holes;

c) feeding the comb member progressively from said narrower end of said ramp to said wider end thereof, such that said fingers separate from said transverse spine as the comb member progresses along the ramp member;

d) continuing feeding the comb member such that said comb member moves substantially along the marginal edge region; and

e) permitting ends of the curled fingers to penetrate the series of holes such that the fingers resume the curled configuration and bind the stack to the comb member.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the direction of feed of the comb member along the ramp member is substantially co-linear with the direction of feed of the comb member along the marginal edge region.

29. A method according to claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the comb member is provided in a magazine which permits successive dispensing of individual ones of the comb members for successive individual binding operations.

30. A method of binding substantially ark herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.