Velobind, Inc.

Phillip M Crudo

Luis De Leon

William H Abildgaard

Roger F Lay

Dale Ransom

Scott Foltz

Plastic binding strips, one strip having studs which fit through holes in sheets to be bound, the other strip having holes to receive the studs are bound in a machine which compresses the strips toward each other, then cuts of excess stud length and forms rivet heads on the stud ends to bind the strips together. The present improvement over such machines uses a motor to drive linkages previously manually actuated. The binding motor drives linkages on either side of the machine which cause a transverse pressure bar to apply a pre-selected compressive force on the strips, then to initiate the movement of the knives which cut off the studs and form heads thereon and finally release the compressive force. The cutting and head forming functions are performed by springs which pull a transverse rod rearward of the machine to push rearward a support for the knives. A second motor drives a linkage which returns the pressure bar to its upward position as the binding cycle is completed.

Motorized binding machine

A debinding apparatus for inclusion in a machine adapted to bind together sheets formed with first apertures spaced longitudinally on one edge thereof. The machine uses a first narrow thermoplastic strip which has studs projecting therefrom and spaced complementary to the first apertures in the sheets and a second narrow strip formed with second apertures spaced complementary to the first apertures in the sheets. The machine has a frame and a platen for supporting the second strip with the sheets superimposed on the second strip and the studs of the first strip extending through the first and second apertures and protruding below the second strip. In addition, the machine includes a plurality of cutting elements, heating elements for heating the cutting elements, and a mechanism for moving the cutting elements to cut off excess stud length and to initiate the formation of heads on the ends of the studs. The machine also has an assembly for forming heads on the ends of the studs which includes a plurality of fingers for engaging the ends of the stud and a mechanism for actuating the fingers from an inoperative to an operative position. The improvement to the machine comprises a debinding apparatus which disengages the mechanism for actuating the fingers so that after the cutting elements soften the heads the fingers do not cool the heads, thereby facilitating separation of the strips and sheets. A switch initiates the debinding apparatus.

Binding machine with debinder

To remove binding strips of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,013 from the book or document bound thereby, a debinding machine is used. The machine has a platen on which the spine of the book is supported and a perpendicular back plate against which one face of the book is forced, one binding strip fitting into a gap between the lower edge of the back plate and the platen. Pulling a handle causes a knife blade to enter behind the aforesaid book face and the strip, cutting the studs so that the strip is severed from the book. The other studs may then be pulled out of the holes in the sheets of the book by pulling away the remaining strip.

Debinder for strip-bound books and documents

The apparatus and case are used with a core formed of sheets and end sheets covered on their exteriors with pressure sensitive material initially protected by release paper all bound togehter by narrow plastic binding strips along the spine edges of the core. The novel case for such a core has a spine having a strip of material covered by pressure sensitive adhesive of a width substantially greater than the thickness of the core plus twice the width of the binding strips, the same strip preferably being glued or otherwise permanently affixed to the spine of the case and extending outward to the inner edges of Davey board cover stiffeners (if used). The apparatus has right and left horizontal platens movable in and out relative to the center. The case is placed on the platens and centered. The core is held in a pivotable clamp behind the platens and is pivoted down so that the spine edge of the core is firmly attached to the spine strip of the case and continued pivoting depresses the spine of the case to the extent that the core binding strips are below the platens. The platens are then brought inward, attaching the spine strip to the end sheets. The book is rolled between rollers which engage above the plastic binding strips and below the Davey boards, thus completing firm attachment of the case to the core.

Case with pressure sensitive adhesive covered spine strip

The apparatus and case are used with a core formed of sheets and end sheets covered on their exteriors with pressure sensitive material initially protected by release paper all bound together by narrow plastic binding strips along the spine edges of the core. The novel case for such a core has a spine having a strip of material covered by pressure sensitive adhesive of a width substantially greater than the thickness of the core plus twice the width of the binding strips, the same strip preferably being glued or otherwise permanently affixed to the spine of the case and extending outward to the inner edges of Davey board cover stiffeners (if used). The apparatus has right and left horizontal platens movable in and out relative to the center. The case is placed on the platens and centered. The core is held in a pivotable clamp behind the platens and is pivotted down so that the spine edge of the core is firmly attached to the spine strip of the case and continued pivoting depresses the spine of the case to the extent that the core binding strips are below the platens. The platens are then brought inward, attaching the spine strip to the end sheets. The book is rolled between rollers which engage above the plastic binding strips and below the Davey boards, thus completing firm attachment of the case to the core.

Casing-in machine

Supplies used with the machine include sheets with holes at intervals, first plastic strips having flexible studs at the same intervals and second strips having holes at the same intervals. The outside surface of said second strip is formed with grooves to receive the bent excess lengths of the studs. The machine has a platen supporting the sheets and a bridge supporting the second strip. The first strip is installed with the studs through the holes in the sheets and second strip. A rotating cam shaft first pulls a pressure bar against the top of the first strip to compress the sheets between the strips with a pre-determined pressure. Mounted on the cam shaft is a drum cam having a pair of grooves which receive cam followers extending from horizontally reciprocating carriages. Each carriage has a pair of bending rollers which have a path of movement immediately below the bottom surface of the second strip. Continued rotation of the cam shaft after compression of the strips is completed causes the carriages to move toward the center of the machine, the rollers bending the excess stud lengths at right angles and into the grooves.

Machine for bookbinding using flexible strips

A machine for punching holes in batches of sheets has a receptor which holds a stack of sheets in vertical position. A timing mechanism sequentially jogs and segregates a first batch from the receptor and deposits same in a vertical punch slot. At the bottom of the punch slot is a horizontally reciprocating punch which forms the holes. Meanwhile, a second batch is bieng jogged and segregated. The first and second batches are gripped and lifted. The first batch is deposited in a vertical discharge slot from which it is transferred to a deposit tray. The second batch is simultaneously punched while in the punch slot.

Growing community of inventors

Sparks, NV, United States of America

Phillip M Crudo