Bookbinding: process and apparatus – Apparatus – Edge binding apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-14
2001-11-06
Tsai, Henry (Department: 3722)
Bookbinding: process and apparatus
Apparatus
Edge binding apparatus
C140S07100R, C140S07100R, C140S092300, C140S092400, C140S092700, C412S007000, C412S009000, C412S010000, C412S011000, C412S012000, C412S013000, C412S014000, C412S033000, C412S038000, C412S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312204
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a semi-automatic plastic spiral binding machine which inserts the plastic spiral into aligned holes in a spiral bound book and cuts and inwardly bends the coil ends.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While most of the prior art in the field of spiral binding apparatus relates to the use of metallic wire spirals, two patents specifically relate to the use of plastic spirals. The patent of Penner (U.S. Pat. No. 2,638,609) describes a machine for binding books with special features for aligning the perforations of a sheaf of papers to be bound and to confine the travel of the plastic spiral binding material. The patent of Pfaffle (U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,278) describes a machine for spiral binding which feeds plastic thread from a bulk spool, softens the thread, winds it on a mandrel to form a spiral, cools it to harden and then feeds the rigid spiral into a perforated sheet group.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,822 of Morris describes a spiral binding machine with a drive component. However, the mandrel of Morris '822 is fixed, not laterally adjustable as in the present invention, and the mandrel of Morris '822 has a closed end, which requires pre-feeding of the spiral thereon.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to overcome the complexity of prior art machines that are designed to handle plastic spirals for binding.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a spiral bound book which prevents ripping at the edge of the book by maximizing the gap from the edge of the book to the first spiral coil insertion hole of the book.
It further an object of the present invention to provide a spreading means for increasing the gap between adjacent coil segments, to be able to insert the coil into the first spiral insertion hole of the book.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an advancement means for accurately transporting a plastic spiral coil to its proper position for insertion into the first spiral insertion hole of the book.
It is another object of this invention to be able to handle a wide variety of plastic spiral sizes with minimal custom tooling features to handle the different sizes.
It is another object of this invention to provide a semi-automatic machine of low cost and reliable operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In keeping with the objects of the present invention and others which may become apparent, the basic operational concept of the present invention is to use an adjustable speed drive to rotate a spiral coil for a spiral bound book at optimum speed for the diameter of a particular spiral as well as the thickness of the book being bound. This, along with a smooth mandrel with a spiral stabilizing spring, controls the proper feeding of the spiral without the necessity for expensive machined parts to confine the spiral to prevent its distortion.
The binding machine of the present invention spirally binds a sheaf of papers into a book. It clamps together the sheaf of papers making up the book, which book has a plurality of holes in a row adjacent to one edge of the book, to receive the leading edge of the spiral binding element. The machine includes a stationary base which is from one end of the book, and a block slidably mounted on the base, which has an arm extending outwardly.
The arm supports at its distal end thereof a cylindrically shaped mandrel, which is spaced from the slidable block and the bottom edge of the mandrel horizontally in a line corresponding with the row of holes in the book. The arm is attached at its distal end to the mandrel at the proximate end of the mandrel, which faces the row of holes and is spaced apart from the book. The arm is attached to the block at the proximate end, to adjust the distance between the mandrel and the block.
A feeding mechanism feeds a plastic, pre-formed, spiral binding element onto the mandrel, from the distal end thereof, which spiral binding element terminates at the proximate end of the mandrel. The leading edge of the binding element faces, and is spaced apart from, the book. The internal diameter of the spiral binding element is slightly in excess in size of the outer diameter of the mandrel.
A spring is mounted on the slidable block to engage and to adjustably bias the spiral binding element on the mandrel upwardly, against the mandrel, so that the upper portion of the binding element is spaced apart from the top of the mandrel.
A wheel, having an outer frictional surface, engages a top outer surface of the spiral binding element and a motor drives the wheel, to feed the spiral binding element into the row of holes in the book, for binding the book.
An adjusting mechanism adjusts the position of the block on the base, positioning the mandrel, to obtain proper alignment of the leading edge of the spiral binding element with the row of holes of the book.
To prevent ripping at the edge of the book after it is bound and used, the breach on the book's cover from the edge of the book to the first spiral coil insertion hole of the book is maximized. This is accomplished by a spreader which increases the breach between adjacent coil segments to align with the predetermined breach from the boundary of the book to the first hole, so that the plastic spiral coil can be accurately inserted into the first spiral insertion hole of the book, and thereafter into the other holes for the book.
For example, while sizes of holes in the book may vary, the holes are typically {fraction (11/64)} inch in diameter, and the measured space between the mid point of each hole to the next adjacent midpoint of the next adjacent hole is about ½ inch. Consequently the space between adjacent holes is equal to {fraction (5/64)} inch, which is measured as the distance of ¼ (or {fraction (16/64)}) inch from hole mid point to hole midpoint, taking into account and deducting the {fraction (11/64)} diameter of each hole.
In the prior art the breach between the first hole and the leading boundary of the pages of the book has also been only about {fraction (5/64)} inch, which is too small a breach to prevent damage by ripping of the cover at the boundary down to the first hole. In the present invention, the breach is increased to about {fraction (3/16)} inch, which is more than double the length of the typical breach on the leading edge of a spiral bound book.
However, to increase the leading edge gap, the distance between adjacent coil segments of a plastic spiral coil must be increased from the typical {fraction (5/64)} inch length to {fraction (3/16)} inch.
This increase in distance is accomplished by a spreader mechanism which contacts and spreads apart the coils of the spiral as they advances from an alignment mandrel to the position where the spiral is enclosed into the leading hole of the book to be bound. The spreader moves apart the first adjacent coil segments from their hole engaging distance of {fraction (5/64)} inch to the increased distance of {fraction (3/16)} inch.
The spreader device has a pair of leading edge spreaders located where the leading boundary edge of the book to be bound is held in place between a pair of comb jaw clamps. Two spreaders are used at the leading edge and a single spreader is used at the trailing edge of the book.
The leading spreader has a body with a slot therein for increasing or decreasing the position of the spreader with respect to the edge of the book to be bound with the plastic spiral.
This leading spreader is preferably a one piece metal unit with an arcuate convex edge being provided at the recess to engage and spread apart adjacent segments of the spiral coil as it advances over the breach between the leading boundary edge of the book and the first hole of the book, toward the first leading hole of the book to be bound.
This first spreader is mounted to a combed clamp jaw permanently attached to, or integral with, a top shelf of the spiral binding machine.
A second spreader, namely a side guide spreader, is mounted to an outer pivotal combed clamp jaw, which pivots into position for tightening t
Dorishook Robert
Spiel Norton
Henderson Mark T.
Tsai Henry
Walker Alfred M.
LandOfFree
Semi-automatic plastic spiral binding machine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Semi-automatic plastic spiral binding machine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Semi-automatic plastic spiral binding machine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2577734