Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – Automatic and/or material-triggered control
Utility Patent
1998-07-17
2001-01-02
Gray, Linda L. (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
Automatic and/or material-triggered control
C156S362000, C156S494000, C156S540000, C156S541000, C156S542000, C156S569000
Utility Patent
active
06167933
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for automatically inserting a marker into a book near the binding.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Theft is a continually growing problem in society, requiring additional security measures to minimize theft. In particular, many stores and other places of business have installed electronic article surveillance systems (EAS) for controlling unauthorized removal of articles. Such systems use a single or dual status ferromagnetic marker attached to an article with systems at exits which detect the markers and sound an alarm.
Bookstores and libraries have special problems with theft of books, which are easily concealed. Libraries rarely have surveillance systems and typically have very limited resources for security personnel. Libraries cannot afford the expense of stolen books and, in many instances, libraries lose books which are very rare and irreplaceable. Bookstores try to minimize shoplifting of expensive inventory which is easily accessible and which may be difficult to monitor in crowded stores.
Special EAS systems have been developed for libraries and bookstores. The markers and attachment methods used with clothing and many other articles cannot be easily attached to books without damaging the book. EAS ferromagnetic markers for use in books are typically long narrow strips that are manually inserted between two opposing pages of a book, close to and extending substantially parallel to the binding. Each side of the marker is typically coated with an adhesive to secure the marker to the book pages. When properly placed, the markers are difficult to visually detect, difficult to remove, and do not detract from the reader's ability to read and enjoy the book. The markers must be deactivated when articles marked with them are checked out of libraries or purchased in stores so that an alarm does not sound.
It can be appreciated that for such systems to function effectively, all the books in a library collection must include a detectable marker. The markers heretofore have been manually removed from a box of markers and inserted into a book. Manual removal and insertion of markers in libraries may be acceptable when the collection is quite small, however manual insertion methods may not be acceptable with larger collections.
The markers are typically manufactured in a roll on a backing sheet with an adhesive backing on both the front and back to adhere to the pages of the book, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,313, assigned to Minnesota Mining and manufacturing Company. Individual strips are cut from the roll for insertion. Each marker includes overlapping backing material on each face. The process of removing an individual backing sheet from the adhesive coated marker and manually inserting and positioning each individual marker is very laborious, expensive and time consuming for large collections.
In addition to time and expense involved with manual insertion, the quality of positioning each marker may vary with manual placement. It is appreciated that if markers having adhesive on both sides are placed on the page too far from the binding, it will be more difficult for the reader to turn the pages and the pages between which the marker is inserted will not be sufficiently separated and may be difficult to read. Similar problems also occur should the marker be placed into the book is a skewed or bowed manner. The handling of the markers with manual insertion may also unduly stress or otherwise damage the strips. When this occurs, signal loss may become great enough that the markers may not be accurately detected. In addition, since the markers are typically stored in a container without alignment or protection, the individual markers may be easily twisted, bent or otherwise damaged during shipping or storage.
As access to books is somewhat difficult in some libraries, often requiring a ladder to reach, it is important that the books need not necessarily be transported to a central location for marker insertion. Therefore it will be appreciated that if an insertion device is mobile so that it may be brought either into the aisles between book shelves or at least to different locations within the library, the work involved in transporting books to the device is decreased.
It can be seen then, that a new and improved method is needed for inserting a detectable marker between opposing pages of a book. It can be appreciated that such a device and method should be substantially automated to insert and properly position a marker between pages of an open book. In addition, the device should provide for automatically removing the markers from a roll or other packaging of multiple markers. The device should attach each marker between the spread opposed pages of the book near the binding in a substantially identical position. Such a device should be adaptable for inserting markers into a variety of sizes and types of books. The present invention addresses these as well as other problems associated with insertion and placement of detectable markers used with books.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for automatically inserting markers between opposed pages of books near the binding. The present invention provides for automatically removing a marker from a roll of detectable marker material and inserting the separated marker between the opposed pages of a book.
The insertion apparatus includes a base which receives a sliding tray for supporting a book, with an assemblies' housing supported above the book. The housing includes a cartridge assembly which receives a roll of magnetic markers, as well as a separator assembly for removing the markers from the backing sheet of the roll. A gripper assembly receives the separated markers and is rotatably mounted so that the removed marker may be lowered with and extended into the space between the opposed pages on an elevator assembly. A V-arm type assembly is utilized for guiding the marker into. position and for providing adequate separation of the opposed pages to allow full insertion of a marker. A processor receives input from sensors and controls stepper motors and solenoids to detect the position of the marker and to insert the marker properly into the book and advance the roll.
The cartridge assembly includes a handle and a frame and is removable from the housing so that the roll may be mounted thereto. The cartridge assembly includes guide rollers which feed the length of material and drive rollers which pull the material from the roll. The material passes over a peel bar which bends the backing sheet so that each marker having adhesive applied to its surfaces is peeled away from the backing sheet. Left and right drive rollers are preferably independently driven so that the roll may be pulled by either end to maintain proper alignment.
The separator assembly includes moveable jaws which are located proximate the peel bar and which provide for clamping against an end marker peeled away from the backing sheet. Solenoids actuate the jaws to clamp onto the marker and also provide for movement of the clamped jaws horizontally away from the peel bar to separate the end marker from the next adjacent marker. Sensors indicate the presence of both ends of the marker and signal whether the marker is sufficiently advanced and properly positioned.
The gripper assembly includes a pair of rotatably mounted arms driven by a motor with fingers which clamp to a closed position and spread to an open position for grabbing end portions of the markers. The end portions of each marker preferably do not have adhesive applied thereto so that the marker does not adhere to the surfaces of the gripper arm fingers. The fingers are actuated by a solenoid to pivot the fingers open and closed. The gripper arms are pivotally mounted and are biased outward by tension springs. As the separator jaws are moved towards the gripper arms, guide posts extending from the arms engage ramp portions on the s
Allen James L.
Anthony, III Philip M.
Bell Randall P.
De Vale Donald P.
Eiger Aaron B.
3M Innovative Properties Company
Gray Linda L.
Olson Peter L.
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for automatically inserting markers... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for automatically inserting markers..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for automatically inserting markers... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2454990