General Binding Corporation

Asterisk, Inc.

Other

Frank A Todaro

Peter Hotkowski

Daniel J Williams

Brian C Richardson

Mark James Fisher

Samuel P Amdahl

Marc Kullberg

Charles M Chadwick

David J Clark

William Wheeler

Thomas T Battisti

James Thomas Russo

Michael W Raymond

Peter C Burton

Michael D Strange

The present invention includes an automated binding machine configured for binding a stack of perforated sheets with a binding element. The automated binding machine includes a support member supporting the stack of perforated sheets, a binding element feeder, a plurality of binding elements supported by the binding element feeder, a receiving member configured to receive a first binding element from the plurality of binding elements and to insert at least a portion of the first binding element through the stack of perforated sheets, and a binding mechanism configured to engage the inserted portion and couple the inserted portion to a non-inserted portion of the first binding element.

Apparatus and methods for automatically binding a stack of sheets with a nonspiral binding element

Binding element

A plurality of binding elements, each of a substantially uniform thickness, the fingers being looped over and coupled to the spine such that the inner surface of the fingers is disposed against the inner surface of the spine by an adhesive when assembled. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the outer surface of the binding element is resistant to a more permanent attachment to the adhesive such that the plurality may be stacked together, and successively decoupled or removed for insertion into a stack. The binding elements may include score lines or bends in the fingers to provide a rounded closed loop structure; optional gussets in the bends inhibit straightening of the fingers. The fingers optionally include variations in cross-section along the length to relieve certain stresses to inhibit the looped finger. The binding elements optionally include structure for facilitating interaction with an automating binding process.

Binding elements and plurality of binding elements particularly suited for automated processes

A splicer quickly and accurately joins together with tape the ends of plain sheets or perforated sheets, such as the ends of fanfold sheet commonly used for printing. The sheets are clamped between mating pairs of resilient strips by a top which hinges down onto a base. The base has a combination of frictional clamps and retractable pins, for aligning the ends of sheet before they are clamped in place by the top, according to whether the sheets are perforated or not. A head is then moved rearwardly along the top, to first slit overlapping sheets and create a precise butt line, when that is required. An anti-friction surface on one of the resilient clamping strips attached to the top enables selective removal a one trim piece, to expose the butt line for taping, without release of the clamping action on the sheets. The head is then moved forward to precisely apply tape from a dispenser, and to automatically cut the tape and the end of the run. A cam, cam follower, and several interacting mechanical subassemblies carry out the required complex motions.

Slitter-splicer for joining the ends of sheets

The automated machine includes exchangeable spacing assemblies from which the positions of the various rollers, as well as the curve of the perforations in the stack(s) of sheets are determined for a spiraling a given coil size into the stack of sheets. Various sizes of spacing assemblies are provided to allow the operator to the binding machine to bind various sizes of coils into a stack of sheets by exchanging the spacing assemblies. Two support surfaces support the halves of thick books, the coil spiraling through stacks of sheets positioned on both support surfaces simultaneously. The stack(s) of sheets with a coil inserted therethrough drops to a crimping station when the rollers separate and the support surfaces pivot toward a vertical position. Once the crimping operation has been performed, an ejector ejects the book from the crimping station, and book exits the machine under the force of gravity.

Automated spiral binding machine

Apparatus for reducing peak tensions and tearing in perforated sheet ( ) being drawn along a flow path from a stack (S) into a finishing machine (F) is comprised of a drag unit ( ), for retarding motion of the sheet; an assist unit ( ) for urging the sheet along the flow path; and, a dancer unit ( ) for changing the length of the flow path. The assist unit comprises a pair of constant speed rollers ( ) supported by mounting blocks ( ). The orientation of the assist unit is changed by rotating the mounting blocks. The roller ( ) of the dancer unit is spring biased against the sheet.

Web stabilizer

A splicer for joining with tape the abutted ends of two sheets, such as the headers and footers of stacks of fanfold paper to be printed upon, is comprised of a clamp assembly and a tape dispenser. The clamp assembly captures the ends of the sheets between the resilient surfaces of a base and a movable top comprised of two spaced apart bars. Pins in the base help align perforated paper for joining. The dispenser runs along the slot between the two bars. It dispenses, presses down, and cuts the tape as it is laid along the butt-line between the ends of the sheets. An optional reversing bar causes the two sheets to travel along different shape paths to the splicer, thus enabling application of tape to the opposing sides of the sheets.

Splicer for joining thin sheets

Apparatus for feeding stacks of fanfold sheets is comprised of a belt conveyor, a positioner, and a splicer. The conveyor feeds stacks deposited thereon by the positioner toward the discharge end. The postioner is comprised of a U-shape bin which receives fanfold stacks and then turns them over and deposits them at a desired position along the length of the conveyor belt. In one embodiment, the stacks are lifted from the floor level. In another, the positioner translates along the base of the conveyor and includes a mechanism which automatically locks the positioner in place during loading. A splicer is positioned over the belt. Header and footer ends of adjacent stacks are run to the splicer where they are precisely clamped and then adhesively joined together, on the top side or underside, as desired. The conveyor has a sensor and drive system which automatically advances stacks toward the discharge end and signals the operator when there is a need to reload. The conveyor belt is powered by a timing belt drive system where the timing belt runs around the conveyor belt roller, to both frictionally engage the conveyor belt and cause it to crown up.

Fanfold sheet feeder having stack positioner

The present invention provides new offsetting paper stacking devices and methods which automatically stack sheets of paper into groups which are offset from each other. The offsetting paper stacker stacks sheets of paper that are feed into an input end of the device one at a time at a high rate of speed. The paper is stacked in one pile, however, within that pile there are groups of sheets that are stacked at a sideways offset to the group immediately above and below. Accordingly, every other group of sheets of paper will be in line with each other and each adjacent group will be offset from each other. The offsetting paper stacker includes stacker wheels which are rotatable about two axes of rotation to stack the paper in an offset manner.

Offsetting paper stackers

Lifts or sets of precise count are withdrawn from a stack of sheets. A reciprocating vacuum head serially pulls away sheet corners from the stack. Each sheet is stripped from the head and held by the backside of the head at a holding zone axially spaced apart from the stack until the desired quantity in the set is accumulated. A wedge then interposes in the space between the set of restrained corners and the rest of the stack, to bend the upper half of the sheet set away from the stack while the rest of the set remains in contact with the stack. Then nip rollers engage the bent away parts as a set and draw away the whole of the set transversely.

Method and device for separating lifts from a stack of sheets

A method and apparatus for separating groups of sheets from a stack for a punching or binding operation. The invention uses a dual disk arrangement having a front disk and a rear disk. The arrangement is for separating a substack from a stack of pages, the substack temporarily resting on the rear disk, and divided by the front disk. The arrangement includes a plurality of rollers downstream of the substack to transport the substack to a downstream processing station.

Disk lift separator

A mechanical buffer for imparting a substantial delay to paper items, such as envelopes which are being individually and sequentially conveyed in a high-speed paper transport system, maintains physical separation between the conveyed items and does not require termination of item movement or item encoding. The buffer employs a directional translation of item motion, i.e., envelope motion in the length-wise direction is changed to motion in the direction of thickness, to achieve a velocity-distance compression. The buffer apparatus includes a continuous loop of item carriers which are individually positioned to have incoming items sequentially and individually inserted therein, the carriers imposing a retarding frictional force proportional to item thickness and mass to arrest item motion in the longitudinal direction as the direction of item motion undergoes the translation.

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Old Saybrook, CT, United States of America

Frank A Todaro