Binding Patents (Class 270/52.18)
  • Patent number: 10647146
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the manufacture of an article made up of a number of elements, including a resilient element, that are bonded together during the manufacturing process. The apparatus includes a guide track which defines a path along which the elements travel during the manufacturing process and a compression frame provided along at least part of the length of the track for compressing the resilient element as the resilient member travels along the path defined by the guide track. The process includes moving a combination of article precursor elements together along the guide track rails such that the compression frame acts to press the elements together during bonding. The method and apparatus minimize misalignment of the elements and thereby improve quality of the finished article as well increasing production rates compared to conventional methods and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: George Wallace McDonald
  • Patent number: 10315449
    Abstract: A method for operating a thread sewing machine to process printed sheets to form book blocks includes transporting the printed sheets lying astride a first transport section of a transport system. The first transport section is operated by a conveying mechanism. The conveying mechanism is operated with a speed change that depends on a direct sequence of different sheet lengths of the printed sheets. The printed sheets are fed from the first transport section to a second transport section of the transport system. The second transport section is operated by a conveying device having at least one of a controller and an operative connection to a stop so as to ensure an individual positioning of a sub-format printed sheet relative to a standard-format printed sheet. The printed sheets are fed from the second transport system to a downstream sewing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MUELLER MARTINI HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Holger Arendt, Dirk Waldmann
  • Patent number: 10261454
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus determines whether crease processing at a plurality of portions set on the sheet includes crease processing on two, front and back surfaces of the sheet; determines, if it is determined that crease processing includes crease processing on the two surfaces of the sheet, whether a connected post-processing apparatus that performs crease processing on a sheet can perform crease processing on the two, front and back surfaces of the sheet by one feeding; and controls, if it is determined that the connected post-processing apparatus cannot perform crease processing on the two surfaces by one feeding, to change, to one of the front and back surfaces of the sheet based on attribute information of the sheet, a surface to be processed in crease processing at the plurality of portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Ooba
  • Patent number: 10053324
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first member having a first concavo-convex portion in which pluralities of concavities and convexities are provided, a second member having a second concavo-convex portion in which pluralities of concavities and convexities are provided and clamping a sheet bundle together with the first concavo-convex portion of the first member, and a supporting portion supporting at least one of the first and second members turnably centering on a turning center. The first concavo-convex portion is configured such that a distance between an end on the turning center side of one convex portion among the pluralities of concavities and convexities and the turning center is different from a distance between an end on the turning center side of another convex portion and the turning center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideto Abe
  • Patent number: 9617095
    Abstract: A saddle stitcher is provided. The saddle stitcher includes a saddle conveyor for transporting signatures and at least one signature guide located along the saddle conveyor. The signature guide includes a plurality of supports and at least one flexible member supported by the plurality of supports thereby defining a guide area. The at least one flexible member guides the signature in the guide area. Methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Curley, Gary Cooper
  • Patent number: 8967609
    Abstract: A method for operating a thread stitching machine for processing printed sheets to form book blocks includes providing at least one sewing station with an active connection to at least one stitching saddle and providing the at least one stitching saddle with an active connection to at least one transporting system. The printed sheets are supplied to the at least one stitching saddle, using the at least one transporting system, in at least one of a substantially vertical and a substantially horizontal plane relative to the at least one stitching saddle. At least the printed sheets in the substantially vertical plane are supplied directly onto the at least one stitching saddle or to a region of the at least one stitching saddle. The printed sheets are supplied to the at least one sewing station resting astride the at least one stitching saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Holger Arendt
  • Patent number: 8944426
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus 3 includes a position aligning section (61A, 61B), a holding section 53, and a processing section (38, 55). The position aligning section (61A, 61B) abuts the inner side or a fold of a sheet bundle (S2), which is formed by collecting a plurality of folded sheets (S1), to align the position of the folds of line plurality of folded sheets (S1). The holding section (53) holds the sheet bundle (S2) in which the position of the folds of the plurality of sheets (S1) has been aligned by the position aligning section (61A, 61B). The processing section (38, 55) performs a predetermined process on the sheet bundle (S2) held by the holding section 53.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akio Kasuga, Tatsuya Katagiri
  • Publication number: 20150008635
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: an accumulating section on which a sheet is accumulated; a staple inserting section which is provided above the accumulating section; a staple receiving section which is provided so as to face the staple inserting section across a sheet bundle accumulated on the accumulating section; and a movement section which moves an inserting unit or the accumulating section according to a thickness of the sheet bundle so that the inserting unit faces a predetermined position on an upmost sheet of the sheet bundle, wherein the staple inserting section includes the inserting unit which inserts a staple into the sheet bundle by rotating toward the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Akira TSUNODA
  • Patent number: 8894056
    Abstract: Sheets center-folded by a center-folder are placed on a main saddle. A buffer saddle is provided separately from the main saddle, on an opposite side of the center-folder across the main saddle. The pile of sheets saddle-stitched on the main saddle is placed on the buffer saddle. When viewed from above, the buffer saddle is movable in a direction separating from the main saddle that is a reverse direction to the center-folder, and in a direction orthogonal to the direction separating from the main saddle. A sheet processing device is arranged in the orthogonal direction where the buffer saddle is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keisuke Oshima
  • Patent number: 8876098
    Abstract: A thread stitching machine to process signatures into book blocks includes a transport system for the signatures including a transport section on which the signatures are straddling for supply to a stitching station. The transport section includes an auxiliary saddle and a driven, continuously moving conveying chain to drive the auxiliary saddle. The conveying chain has spaced-apart, integrated pusher elements. A downstream installed stitching station includes a freely moving stitching saddle immediately following the auxiliary saddle. The stitching saddle includes a separate conveying device for the signatures, operated by a drive. A detection device is arranged at a transition between the auxiliary saddle and the stitching saddle to detect a position of the signature and a time which the signature passes by. The conveying chain is operated with a change in speed that depends on different sheet lengths following each other directly in a sequence of signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Holger Arendt, Dirk Waldmann, Marcel Weiss, Franz Mezger
  • Patent number: 8708324
    Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and second grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Curley, Warren Hess Jarrard
  • Patent number: 8702085
    Abstract: Theres is disclosed a device (10) for manufacturing a notepad (15) comprising a stack of sheets, a first side of each sheet having an adhesive to attach the first side to a reverse face of a sheet immediately facing said first side in said stack. The device (10) including a sheet feeder (20) for loading one or more loose sheets (24) of similar dimensions with the reverse face of each sheet (24) in said stack facing in the same direction and feeding each said sheet downstream of said device (10). A cutting means (40) is provided to cut each sheet (24) or a number of said sheets (24) to predetermined dimensions. An adhesive applicator (60) applies adhesive to a portion or portions of the first side of each sheet (24). A stacking means (100) stacks the cut sheets one on top of the other whereby a forming means (120) forms the cut sheets together to form the notepad (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ra Corporation Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Ashley Craige Carter, Rohan Tilak Liyanaratchi
  • Patent number: 8613436
    Abstract: In a cover feeding device (1) for feeding covers (13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3) separated from a magazine (3, 3?) to book blocks (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) that are transported while being clamped in book block grippers (2), it is proposed that the magazine (3, 3?) features at least a first lateral stop (6.1) that is arranged such that it can be fixed transverse to the withdrawal direction (12) and against which different covers (13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3) intended, in particular, for book blocks (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) of different thickness can be jointly placed, and that at least the magazine (3, 3?) can be adjusted transverse to the withdrawal direction (12) such that an edge (17) of the spine region of the respective cover to be separated is withdrawn essentially in alignment with the rigid gripping jaw (2 a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Yahya Tas, Jürgen Garlichs, Andreas Walther
  • Patent number: 8596629
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a collation of sheets for folding operations. The system includes a registration device including multiple registration stations and a conveyance device for transporting the collation to one of the registration stations. Each registration station is adapted to register the edges of the collation based upon a desired edge geometry. A processor determines the fold configuration of the collation and determines the edge geometry thereof based upon the fold configuration of the collation. The processor selects one of the registration stations based upon the fold configuration and then controls the conveyance device to transport the collation to the selected registration station. The registration station selected may also be based upon the thickness of the collation and a desired location for binding the collation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S Hancock, Robert F Marcinik
  • Publication number: 20130277906
    Abstract: A method for operating a thread stitching machine for processing printed sheets to form book blocks includes providing at least one sewing station with an active connection to at least one stitching saddle and providing the at least one stitching saddle with an active connection to at least one transporting system. The printed sheets are supplied to the at least one stitching saddle, using the at least one transporting system, in at least one of a substantially vertical and a substantially horizontal plane relative to the at least one stitching saddle. At least the printed sheets in the substantially vertical plane are supplied directly onto the at least one stitching saddle or to a region of the at least one stitching saddle. The printed sheets are supplied to the at least one sewing station resting astride the at least one stitching saddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Holger Arendt
  • Patent number: 8485513
    Abstract: A control apparatus obtains information identifying sheets stored in an MFP to be caused to perform printing for printing a printed object to be subjected to jacketed book binding, wherein this information is stored in the MFP. The control apparatus stores thicknesses of respective paper sheets as information about paper sheets. From this information and from the information obtained from the MFP, the control apparatus creates a table indicative of the correspondence between the respective paper sheets stored in the MFP and their thicknesses. Further, on receiving a selection of paper sheets to be used for printing for the printed object and a number of these paper sheets, the control apparatus determines a thickness of each paper sheet by making a reference to the table and calculates the spine jacket width by multiplying the thickness by the number of paper sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Sugimoto, Tsuyoshi Morimoto, Atsushi Ito, Taro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130154177
    Abstract: A method for controlling a feeder of a gathering-stitching machine reduces the operating effort when setting the feeder, increases reliability when laying folded sheets on a transport device and improves quality during collating and stitching. Opening and closing times of grippers are regulated under program control, continuously and as a function of format when controlling the feeder of the gathering-stitching machine. Data relating to the dimensions and to the number of pages of the folded sheets is thus entered into a control device, from which data actuating signals for actuating elements of the grippers are generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventor: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
  • Patent number: 8444132
    Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and second grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Curley, Warren Hess Jarrard
  • Patent number: 8424860
    Abstract: A method and device for stitching printed products with a stitching machine, which includes a stitcher head and a bending device, which travel concomitantly with each printed product as it is conveyed in a travel direction during the stitching operation. The bending device is positioned first in a first position, which corresponds to the thickness of the printed products and is a certain distance away from the stitcher head in the direction transverse to the travel direction. Before a printed product is introduced, its thickness is determined and compared with a predetermined limit value; and, if this limit value is exceeded, the bending device is brought into a predetermined second position, which is farther away than the first position from the stitching head. After the printed product has been introduced, the bending device is moved back into the first position, and the wire stitch is driven into the printed product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Andreas Flück, Daniel Graber, Lukas Dysli
  • Patent number: 8393606
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a printing device with a detachable stapling device including a printing device housing, a connecting frame and a stapling device. The connecting frame has a locating post and a fixing hook and is connected with the stapling device. The position of the connecting frame can be adjusted by the locating post of the connecting frame, and the connecting frame can be assembled on the printing device housing or detached from the printing device housing by the fixing hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Kai Wang, Ching-Tse Wang, Ming-Han Chiu, Chung-Jung Chiu
  • Patent number: 8393373
    Abstract: A binding printer is provided which has a media transport assembly configured to transport individual sheets of media along a media path, a printhead assembly configured to print on the sheets transported along the media path, and a binding assembly configured to bind together the printed sheets transported along the media path. The binding assembly has a binding platen configured to press each printed sheet transported onto a support platen to preceding sheets supported on the support platen to bind the printed sheets together, and a chassis defining an inlet for receiving the transported printed sheets and an exit hatch from which the bound printed sheets are removable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8353506
    Abstract: The present utility model relates to an equipment for making an album core automatically, which comprises automatic feeding mechanisms for feeding an album paper and an interlayer, a creasing mechanism for creasing the middle of the album paper to form a crease, a folding mechanism for folding the album paper along the crease and a pasting mechanism for pasting the album or the interlayer by coating glue, wherein the automatic feeding mechanisms include an album paper feeding mechanism, an interlayer feeding mechanism and a control mechanism connected to the two feeding mechanisms. The equipment in the utility model has higher automaticity and can select the kinds of album papers freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Imetto Digital Imaging Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Weijun Yuan, Xiaoqiang Zhang, Yiqiang Deng
  • Patent number: 8342499
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a support unit on which sheets, which each include first and second edge portions that differ from each other, are stacked together such that the first and second edge portions are aligned; a counter member disposed so as to face the first edge portions; a pressing member that presses the first edge portions against the counter member; a first binding unit that binds together the first edge portions by a first binding process, the first edge portion of each sheet being pressed against the counter member by the pressing member; and a second binding unit that binds together the second edge portions by a second binding process, the first edge portion of each sheet being pressed against the counter member by the pressing member, a bond formed by the second binding unit being more easily breakable than a bond formed by the first binding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuuichi Shiraishi, Ryuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8342496
    Abstract: A printing system which is capable of performing square back processing and has a mechanism that makes it possible to prevent occurrence of a new trouble of inadvertently creating a saddle-stitched brochure defective in appearance and/or stackability, which is unexpected by an operator. A printing apparatus receives plural jobs including a saddle-stitch job for creating a saddle-stitched brochure of a predetermined kind. In the saddle-stitch job, saddle-stitch processing and square back processing are carried out. The square back processing is performed by a saddle-stitching machine. The saddle-stitching machine forms a flat surface on the back of a saddle-stitched brochure. A controller permits or inhibits creating the saddle-stitched brochure of the predetermined kind for a job based on whether the job meets a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Toda, Kiyoshi Tokashiki, Kazuhiko Ushiyama
  • Publication number: 20120306143
    Abstract: Methods for forming a signature are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a signature print is received that is predisposed to z-fold of the across a width of the signature print to form a z-folded stack of sheets and an automatic z-fold system is used to enable the signature print to form the z-folded stack of sheets of the signature print according to the manner in which the signature print is predisposed. The z-folded stack is bound proximate to a saddle fold location between the z-folds and is saddle folded across a width of the stack proximate to the saddle fold location to dispose the z-folds along a common face of the saddle folded stack, and, the signature print is separated proximate to at least one of the z-folds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Dale Frederick McIntyre
  • Publication number: 20120306142
    Abstract: Methods for forming a signature are provided. In one aspect an automatic z-folding system is used to cause a signature print to fold across a width proximate to z-fold locations spaced along a length of the signature print and to form a z-folded stack of sheets of the signature print and the z-folded stack is bound across a width of the stack proximate to a saddle fold location between the z-folds; saddle folding the z-folded stack at the saddle fold location to dispose the z-folds along a common face of the saddle folded stack, and, separating the signature print at at least one of the z-folds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Dale Frederick McIntyre
  • Publication number: 20120306140
    Abstract: Z-fold signature finishing systems are provided. One z-fold finishing system has a receiver system to receive a signature print; an automatic z-fold system configured to make a z-folded stack of sheets formed from separate portions of a length of a signature print with each sheet being joined to at least one other sheet in the z-folded stack by at least one of the z-folds; a binding system that can bind the z-folded stack proximate to a saddle fold location between the z-folds; a saddle folder having at least two surfaces arranged so that the at least two surfaces and the z-folded stack can move relative to each other to cause the z-folded stack to fold proximate to the saddle fold location to dispose the z-folds along a common face of the saddle folded stack, and, a separation system separating the signature print proximate to at least one of the z-folds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Dale Frederick McIntyre
  • Patent number: 8317182
    Abstract: A method is provided to control a paper-processing machine. Following an occurrence of at least one error, the error is automatically detected with at least one detection device. Following the detection of the error, a measure is automatically introduced to counteract the error. The measure is then canceled at least in part if the error no longer occurs or the machine is stopped completely if the error is still detected by the detection device following completion of a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Thomas Probst
  • Patent number: 8245611
    Abstract: A method for transporting two-dimensional, flexible products, in particular printed products, such as newspapers and magazines or parts thereof, with which the product is conveyed from one gripper of a conveyor device, freely held along a conveyor path at least in regions, and the product grasped by the gripper at the edge which is not to be cut, on the conveyor path, is brought into active connection with cutting means of a cutting station in a manner such that at least one edge of the product is cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Heinz Möckli, Erwin Müller
  • Patent number: 8246031
    Abstract: A new gathering and stitching machine (10) and a new method for operating a gathering and stitching machine (1) are proposed, which make it possible to drive in the staples (K) in a positionally correct manner and to close them satisfactorily even in the case of relatively short staple setting times. This is achieved by the novel control of the position of the staple heads (20) and the saddle-shaped supports (2, 30, 40, 50) in the region of the interaction during stapling. It is an essential feature of the present invention that the staple head (20) and the support (2, 30, 40, 50) are pivoted towards one another in such a way that they come to lie within a common stapling plane (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Marcel Ramseier
  • Patent number: 8220793
    Abstract: An apparatus for thread-stitching of folded print products includes a sewing station in which individual print products are stitched along the fold and print products are then sewn together along the spine to form a book block. A pivoting saddle supplies individual print products straddling thereon to the sewing station. A feeder separates folded print products from a stack of folded print products. A feeding arrangement includes a feed path connecting the feeder to the pivoting saddle, and has a feeding end that cooperates with the feeder to supply the individual print products to the feed path and a discharge end that operates to supply the individual print products to the pivoting saddle. The sewing station, as seen from the top, is arranged on the machine frame of the apparatus, between the feeding end of the feeding arrangement and the pivoting saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Franz Konrad Mezger
  • Patent number: 8210512
    Abstract: With an arrangement for the timed processing of a book block, consisting of at least one printed sheet or at least one signature, a transfer device is arranged in-between the feed devices for the book blocks and the device for the further conveying of such a book block, wherein this transfer device supplies the book blocks to at least one other processing station. The transfer device is provided with a translation device for taking over or clamping in the book block, wherein this translation device executes at least one rotary or quasi-rotary translation movement. The translation device itself operates in at least two spatial dimensions for the transfer of the book block, wherein the translation movement occurs with a uniform or a changeable movement speed. The center axis for the translation device occupies an optional position in space, relative to the further processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Robert W. McFarland, Guenther Silberbauer
  • Patent number: 8205866
    Abstract: A business form product (10) broadly including a printable sheet (12), a magnetic sheet (14) aligned edge-to-edge with the printable sheet (12) to define a seam (16), and a heat-resistant tape (18) applied over the seam (16) to retain the sheets (12,14) in the edge-to-edge relationship is disclosed. The inventive business form product (10, 106) is formed by joining multiple continuous webs (38, 58) edge-to-edge and marrying the webs (38,58) with an adhesive strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ward-Kraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse D. Crum
  • Publication number: 20120139177
    Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and second grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: GOSS INTERNATIONAL AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Daniel CURLEY, Warren H. JARRARD
  • Patent number: 8177214
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a stapler capable of performing a staple processing for sheets with plural staple modes; and a control section that determines a maximum number of sheets that can be processed in single staple processing with one staple mode of the plural staple modes, wherein the control section determines the maximum number of sheets differing from a maximum number of sheets in another staple mode of the plural staple modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Sato
  • Patent number: 8162305
    Abstract: A sheet processing system includes a sheet processing device that includes a post-processing unit that performs a predetermined post-processing on a sheet member and a sheet supplying device that supplies the sheet member to the sheet processing device. The post-processing unit has two waiting positions including a first position that is a normal waiting position and a second position that is a position filling items to be used in the post-processing in the post-processing unit. When the post-processing unit moves from the second position to a post-processing position to perform the post-processing in response to a post-processing request, the sheet supplying device sets a supply time for supplying the sheet member to the sheet processing device longer than a time that is required for the sheet processing device to move from the first position to the post-processing position by a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hattori, Masahiro Tamura, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Hiroshi Maeda, Atsushi Kuriyama, Akira Kunieda, Ichiro Ichihashi, Takashi Saito, Junichi Tokita, Naoyuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8152152
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing paper with paste includes a paper-feeding unit, a pasting main body which seals open ends of a sheet of paper by an adhesive, and a paper-receiving unit on which the sealed sheets of paper are loaded. The pasting main body includes an opening mechanism which opens a closed sheet of paper, an adhesive applying mechanism which applies a peelable temporary adhesive in a streaky form to a lower folded piece of the opened sheet of paper, a sealing mechanism which superposes an upper folded piece on the lower folded piece, and which temporarily adheres the open ends of the upper and lower folded pieces, and a conveying mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Duplo Seiko Corporation
    Inventor: Kei Sakata
  • Patent number: 8146906
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus equipped with a saddle stitch stapler is provided with: a driver unit (1) configured to drive a staple; a clincher unit (2) configured to clinch the staple driven by the driver unit (1); a saddle portion (3) integrated with the clincher unit (2); and a guide portion (6) configured to guide the clincher unit (2) toward a predetermined position of the driver unit (1), when a center portion (11) of a bundle of sheets (10) is clamped between the clincher unit (2) and a staple striking portion (21) of the driver unit (1) after the center portion (11) of the bundle of sheets (10) is placed on the saddle portion (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinpei Sugihara
  • Patent number: 8141863
    Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is provided with: a sheet aligning part that accumulates and aligns sheets so as to generate a bundle of sheets; an edge stitching processor that performs an edge stitching process by which the generated bundle of sheets is stitched together at one edge of the bundle of sheets; an apparatus housing that includes an opening portion through which the bundle of sheets is discharged to an outside of the apparatus housing; a saddle stitching processor that performs, outside of the apparatus housing, a saddle stitching process by which the discharged bundle of sheets is stitched together at a center portion of the bundle of sheets in a transporting direction of the bundle of sheets; and a stacking tray that is provided below the opening portion and outside the apparatus housing, and on which the bundles of sheets subjected to the edge stitching process and the saddle stitching process are capable of being stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Toshio Kawachidani, Yoshimasa Sasaoka, Ryuuichi Shiraishi, Munetake Nagata
  • Patent number: 8128080
    Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and first grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Curley, Warren H. Jarrard
  • Patent number: 8123208
    Abstract: Binding apparatus and a related process are particularly suited for binding digitally-printed sheets into booklets. The apparatus is adapted to fold individual sheets and then to apply adhesive to the fold line before gathering the sheets in a collator ready for binding. The collator includes either a rotatable or retractable finger that is moveable to temporarily inhibit registration of a first sheet of a new stack on a stacking area, as a previous stack is transported away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: IBIS Integrated Bindery Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: John Cracknell, Mark Firth, John O'Brien, Alan Trew, Martin Brewster
  • Patent number: 8118295
    Abstract: A system for binding variable thickness multi-sheet collations includes first and second processing stations including a stitcher and stapler, respectively and a means for determining the thickness of a multi-sheet collation. A processor is responsive to a thickness value signal and selects one of the first and second processing stations to bind the multi-sheet collation. A conveyance system then transports the multi-sheet collation to the selected one of the first and second processing stations. A method includes the steps of: stacking sheet material to produce a multi-sheet collation, determining the thickness of the multi-sheet collation, and selecting an apparatus to bind the multi-sheet collation from one of at least two binding apparatus based upon the thickness of the multi-sheet collation. The multi-sheet collation is then conveyed along a feed path to a selected one of the binding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Marcinik, Russell W. Holbrook, Daniel J. Williams, Edward M. Ifkovits
  • Patent number: 8096542
    Abstract: A method for producing perfect-bound book blocks for books or similar printed products, including driving successively arranged clamps to circulate along an endless path of a perfect binding apparatus, positioning loose book blocks composed of gathered printed sheets inside conveying units of a conveying device, supplying the book blocks upon or prior to reaching the transfer region below the endless path to the clamps of the perfect binding apparatus, the supplying including inserting the book blocks into the clamps pivoted by approximately 90° around a perpendicular axis from a processing position for the book blocks and clamping the book blocks in the clamps with spines facing downwards, and transporting the clamped book blocks in an upright position for further processing in the perfect binding apparatus. An arrangement for producing perfect-bound book blocks is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Daniel Langenegger, Konrad Boos
  • Patent number: 8079583
    Abstract: As set forth herein, a finisher module within an automated print system is described. A compiler delivery system receives and organizes one or more sheets in a predetermined configuration for delivery. A compiling belt system receives the one or more sheets from the compiler deliver system, locates the one or more sheets and transports the sheets concurrent to one or more finishing processes. A side tamper system moves alongside the compiling belt system to side tamp and register sheets in the cross process direction. A stapler/stitcher assembly moves alongside the compiling belt system to perform at least one of a stapling and a stitching operation as the one or more sheets are transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Milillo
  • Patent number: 8074976
    Abstract: In an image forming device, images of originals up to an upper limit number of stapling are read (S1 to S5) and image data thereof are processed (S6 to S8). If a paper sensor has detected a subsequent original even when the number of pages of the read images reaches NS0 (S1, S2), a finisher discharges a bundle of printed papers without stapling. Consequently, the number of the printed papers included in the discharged bundle is made less than the upper limit number. In a case where the number of the printed papers sent to the finisher (S12, S13) is less than a set number NS1 (S15), the bundle is discharged without being stapled after the number of the printed papers reaches NS1 (S17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Ochi, Yoshiteru Nishikawa, Kozo Tao
  • Patent number: 8066271
    Abstract: A business form product (10) broadly including a printable sheet (12), a magnetic sheet (14) aligned edge-to-edge with the printable sheet (12) to define a seam (16), and a heat-resistant tape (18) applied over the seam (16) to retain the sheets (12,14) in the edge-to-edge relationship is disclosed. The inventive business form product (10, 106) is formed by joining multiple continuous webs (38, 58) edge-to-edge and marrying the webs (38,58) with a continuous streamer of tape (86) in a press (36). A preferred embodiment of the inventive method of forming the continuous sheet (106) is disclosed wherein at least one rotatable mechanical web guide (72) is used to align the webs (38,58) in the edge-to-edge relationship, thereby enabling precise alignment not available with existing optic-type web guides. A preferred embodiment of the printable business form product (10) is disclosed wherein heat-resistant tape (18) enables the business form product (10) to be printed in high-heat printing applications (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ward-Kraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse D. Crum
  • Patent number: 8052133
    Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided for producing an adhesive-bound printed item composed of a plurality of printed products. The printed products are gathered into loose book blocks along a first conveying section of a conveying track for a circulating conveyor while positioned transverse to a conveying direction and inclined counter to the conveying direction. The book blocks are then accelerated in an additional section of the circulating conveyor to obtain a larger divisional spacing between the printed products. The book blocks are transferred from the additional section of the circulating conveyor to clamps of a transporter and pivoted to an upright position where one side edge is approximately parallel to the conveying direction. The book blocks are transferred from the clamps of the transporter into respective circulating conveying clamps of an adhesive binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Theo Hug, Peter Fischer, Christophe Vaucher
  • Patent number: 8047522
    Abstract: A perfect binder for processing book blocks, including: a conveying device adapted to convey the book blocks along a closed circulating path, the conveying device including a plurality of clamping devices each adapted to convey a book block; and a plurality of processing stations arranged successively along the closed circulating path. One of the processing stations includes a spine-processing station, and another one of the processing stations includes an end sheet feed station following the spine-processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Günther Silberbauer
  • Patent number: 8047521
    Abstract: A method of making magazine formats in the form of signatures that include a flat 3-D piece that is die-cut from a web on a web press, which produces a plurality of such identical signatures as part of a high speed operation. The flat 3-D piece is located at the upper edge of one sheet and is freed from the remainder of the page on which it is die-cut when the lateral edges of the folded signature are trimmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: John K. Volkert
  • Patent number: 8033538
    Abstract: A method for producing a printed product that includes supplying a wire-stitched booklet to a spine processing device such that the booklet includes signatures and a spine. The method includes reshaping the spine in the spine processing device. Following the reshaping, the method further includes supplying a cover to the booklet, applying adhesive to the cover or to the reshaped spine, and combining the cover with the booklet to form the printed product. The method includes discharging the printed product from the spine processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Herbert Wicki, Christoph Gysin, Roland Kost, Roger Schwenter