Bookbinding: process and apparatus – Process
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-10
2001-10-09
Fridie, Jr., Willmon (Department: 3722)
Bookbinding: process and apparatus
Process
C412S004000, C412S008000, C412S005000, C412S900000, C412S019000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299402
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method of stacking covers of the kind defined in the preamble of claim
1
and intended for the production of booklets. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a cover of the kind defined in the preamble of claim
7
and intended for a booklet, and according to a third aspect the invention relates to a method of fabricating a booklet of the kind defined in the preamble of claim
14
.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
It is known to fabricate booklets with a starting point from covers of the kind in question. Such covers and methods of booklet fabrication with a starting point from said covers are described in WO 94/265 35, among other publications.
These known covers and methods enable high quality booklets to be produced in a simple and rational manner in environments which do not primarily relate to the production of booklets, folders or books. Even though the known covers and methods can be used and applied in such primary production, they are primarily intended for the fabrication of booklets which are sub-handling products, e.g. products in office environments in which different types of printing matter is to be presented in a functional manner, and which afford the greatest advantages in such production. The area of use extends from booklets that contain only a few sheets of paper to compendiums that include several hundreds of sheets or pages. The method of production enables the fabrication of booklets ranging from just a few booklets to relatively large series comprising several tens of thousands of booklets to be achieved in an economic manner with method implementations that are adapted to the size of the series intended.
However, the known covers and the methods applied in the fabrication of booklets on the basis of these covers are encumbered with a binding-agent related problem. The binding agent is comprised of a strip of adhesive material or substance applied firmly to one side of the spine of the cover, said adhesive strip or layer being brought into abutment with the bundle of paper sheets inserted between the cover sheets and the adhesive activated, e.g. , by applying heat thereto. The binding agent is therewith converted from a solid state to a molten or semi-molten state, so as to enable the sheets to penetrate into the binding agent. When the binding agent is caused to harden, the sheets are firmly anchored in the cover and therewith complete the booklet.
It has been found, however, that the binding agent is adhesive to some extent even when in a solid state, particularly when the binding agent lies against a surface over a long period of time and under a certain degree of pressure. This adhesiveness it undesirable and can cause problems in some cases. This applies in particular to the case when the covers are stored and handled while nested together in stacks, with the inner surface of the spine of one cover in abutment with the outer surface of the spine of an immediately adjacent cover and the string of binding agent in contact with said outer spine surface. This is the case when the covers are mutually nested in a V-shaped stack in the type of magazine described in the aforementioned patent specifications.
The covers are thus liable to stick together and therewith cause disturbances in production, particularly in view of the relatively high degree of mechanization employed in the use of the binding machines described in said patent specification.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Against this background, the object of the present invention is to attempt to eliminate the problem of adhesion between covers that are to be used in the fabrication of booklets and that are stacked together with the spines of the covers in mutual abutment.
According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a cover stacking method of the kind defined in the preamble of claim
1
and comprising the particular steps set forth in the characterizing clause of said Claim.
The expression activatable binding agent as used in claim
1
and in other places in the document is meant to imply that the binding agent can be activated to perform its binding function.
The term deactivatable separating means implies that the separating function of said separating means can be deactivated, i.e. caused to cease to function.
As a result of arranging special separating means between the covers in this way, the binding agent on one cover is unable to come into contact with the spine of an adjacent cover, therewith excluding the risk of the mutual adhesion of the covers.
Although the spine separating device may be comprised of a separate element which is deactivated when a cover is advanced for treatment, by removing the element from the cover, the separating device will preferably be affixed to the binding agent. This simplifies handling procedures.
Accordingly, in one preferred embodiment the separating devices have the form of woven material affixed to the binding agent. This enables the separating function of said devices to be deactivated more readily.
The covers will preferably already have been provided with such separating devices when handled for stacking purposes. In this regard, the separating devices may be applied to respective covers in conjunction with their manufacture, in a rational manner.
The aforedescribed embodiments and other advantageous embodiments of the inventive cover stacking method are set forth in the method claims dependent on claim
1
.
According to a second aspect of the invention, the aforesaid object is achieved with a booklet of the kind defined in the preamble of claim
7
and having the particular features set forth in the characterizing clause of said claim.
The application of a spine separating device to the binding agent of the cover avoids the risk of the covers sticking together when nested one within the other.
In one preferred embodiment, the deactivatable separating device is intended to be deactivated in conjunction with activation of the binding agent. thus, no particular measures are required to deactivate the separating device in order to enable bending of the booklet to be carried out, and binding can be effected in one integrated step.
In a further preferred embodiment of the cover, the separating device is attached to the binding agent by virtue of parts of the device penetrating into the binding agent and parts of the device projecting out from the surface of said binding agent. This enables the separating device to be readily applied to a cover during its manufacture and easily deactivated.
The separating device will preferably comprise a woven material. Woven material can be easily applied and deactivated and also has the advantage whereby the woven material will stiffen the spine of the finished booklet.
The aforedescribed embodiments of the inventive cover and other advantageous embodiments thereof will be apparent from the claims dependent on claim
7
.
According to a third aspect of the invention, the object of the invention is also achieved with a booklet fabricating method of the kind defined in the preamble of claim
14
and comprising the particular steps set forth in the characterizing clause of said claim.
There is thus provided a booklet fabricating method in which the separating device prevents undesirable adhesion of mutually adjacent covers on the one hand and with which deactivation of the separating device and activation of the binding agent are integrated on the other hand, so as to enable the actual binding operation to be accomplished without the need of special measures herefor and without the separating device disturbing or obstructing binding of the sheet bundle to the spine of the booklet.
Preferred embodiments of the inventive method will be apparent from the claims dependent on claim
14
REFERENCES:
patent: 4009498 (1977-03-01), Staats et al.
patent: 4106148 (1978-08-01), Axelrod
patent: 4179325 (1979-12-01), Staats et al.
patent: 4289330 (1981-09-01), Wiermanski
patent: 4527814 (1985-07-01), Carter et al.
patent: 455659
Bindomatic AB
Carter Monica S.
Cooper & Dunham LLP
Fridie Jr. Willmon
LandOfFree
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