Velobind, Inc.

William H Abildgaard

Charles T Groswith, Iii

Peter Hotkowski

Frank A Todaro

Charles Chadwick

Phillip M Crudo

Elmer G Szanto

Karl Hymmen

Dale Ransom

Male and female book binding strips are packaged in cassettes and the respective cassettes are stacked in male and female hopper stations. Punched sheets are deposited in a staging station. The components of the book are then assembled in an assembly station. Thus the stack of sheets is fed onto one jaw and one male strip is fed onto that jaw while a female strip is fed onto the opposite jaw superimposed above the first-mentioned jaw. The two jaws are moved toward each other until the stack is loosely held therebetween. Thereupon the jaws are pivoted to vertical position, the stack resting on a base plate attached to one one jaw. The stack is jogged so that the holes in the sheets are aligned with each other and with the holes in the female strip. The male strip is pushed inward toward the stack, the studs fitting through the holes in the sheets and through the female strip. The assembled staack and strips are then moved into a bind station where the strips are compressed together, excess stud length cut off and rivet heads formed on the severed ends of the studs.

Method for automatically justifying, assembling, and binding books

Male and female book binding strips are packaged in cassettes and the respective cassettes are stacked in male and female hopper stations. Punched sheets are deposited in a staging station. The components of the book are then assembled in an assembly station. Thus the stack of sheets is fed onto one jaw and one male strip is fed onto that jaw while a female strip is fed onto the opposite jaw superimposed above the first-mentioned jaw. The two jaws are moved toward each other until the stack is loosely held therebetween. Thereupon the jaws are pivoted to vertical position, the stack resting on a base plate attached to one jaw. The stack is jogged so that the holes in the sheets are aligned with each other and with the holes in the female strip. The male strip is pushed inward toward the stack, the studs fitting through the holes in the sheets and through the female strip. The assembled stack and strips are then moved into a bind station where the strips are compressed together, excess stud length cut off and rivet heads formed on the severed ends of the studs.

Apparatus and method for automatically, justifying, assembling, and

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.

Paper punching machine

Binding strips are used to bind punched paper. A first strip has studs fitting through the holes in the paper and in a second strip. In one form of the invention the studs are flexible and are bent over to snap into grooves in the second strip so that the studs may be unbent to add or remove paper. In another, more permanent, form the studs may be cut off and riveted to the second strip. One of the strips or an intermediate strip has lateral ears formed with hooks which fit over the conventional parallel bars of suspension-type file drawers. One of the strips may be formed with file tabs to indicate the subject matter of the bound paper. Such file tab may be notched to facilitate removal of a pressure-sensitive label affixed to the tab.

Document binding strips and file suspension

A male bookbinding member comprises a relatively thin, narrow strip having studs projecting therefrom at intervals. The ends of the studs are formed as male paper punches. A female paper punch comprises a female bookbinding strip having holes at the same intervals as the studs. Individual or small batches of paper (or other sheet material) are brought into position overlying the female punch. The male member advances toward the sheets punching them in cooperation with the female strip. The paper remains on the studs. The operation is repeated until all the sheets of the book are on the studs. The strips are forced together, excess stud lengths cut off and heads formed on the ends of the studs to rivet the book together or the strips are held together by other means. Alternatively, a hardened female punch die is used and the female binding strip brought into contact with the studs after the sheets are assembled thereon.

Bookbinding method using strips

A first plastic strip has longitudinally spaced studs each of which can be bent over at a 90.degree. angle. A second strip has holes through which the studs fit and grooves which receive and secure the bent over studs. Several stud shapes and bent stud retaining grooves are described. Paper punched to receive the studs is clamped between the two strips. The studs are then bent over into grooves in the second strip and held in bent position. The paper is thus securely bound. A channel may be slipped over the outside of the second strip to conceal the bent studs and further secure them in place.

Bookbinding strips and method of binding books

A first plastic strip has longitudinally spaced studs each of which can be bent over at a 90.degree. angle. A second strip has holes through which the studs fit and grooves which receive and secure the bent over studs. Paper punched to receive the studs is clamped between the two strips. The studs are then bent over into grooves in the second strip and held in bent position. The grooves have overhanging lips which detachably retain the studs in place. The paper in thus securely bound. To prevent cracking the studs, the abruptness of the 90.degree. bend may be relieved by forming an annular depression around the base of each stud.

Heretofore, there have been two common systems of strip binding. One uses paper punched with rectangular holes and curled plastic combs having fingers passing through the holes. The other uses round holes in the paper and male and female strips, the studs of the male strips fitting through the holes in the paper and in the female strips. Excess stud length is cut off and rivet heads formed to make a permanent bind. The present invention uses rectangular punched paper similar to the first systems and strips generally similar to the second system. At least two studs and female strip holes are offset to prevent lateral displacement of the paper.

Binding strips for rectangular hole punched paper

A bookbinding is provided by plastic studs which fit through holes vicinal one margin of each sheet and strips which are fixed to the ends of the studs. The studs may be formed integrally with one or, in alternating arrangement, with both strips and complementary holes formed in the matching strip or strips to receive the stud ends. Excess stud lengths are sheared and headed to lock the strips and interposed sheets in position. Both strips may be apertured and the studs inserted through the holes in the strips and interposed sheets, both ends of the studs being headed. To facilitate handling, strips may be assembled in cartridges or coils, and studs in rods or coils. For thicker books, strips are formed with flanges fitting behind the page margins. Spine concealing tapes and caps fit over or around the spine edges of the sheets.

Bookbinding strips

By means of only slightly modified case making equipment, a hard case for a book is provided with a pad which is attached to the spine edge of an uncased book by pressure-sensitive adhesive. This pad comprises a strip of foam of a material such as polyurethane of a length substantially the same as that of the cover boards for the case and a width slightly less than the gap between adjacent boards which is fastened to the cover material by the same adhesive which causes the cover material to adhere to the boards. In order to provide a non-porous surface for the foam, the latter may be covered by a layer of vinyl, the latter being of the same length and width as the pad and stuck thereto by a suitable adhesive. A layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive material is applied to the vinyl and a protective release paper covers the pressure-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive and release paper are spaced inward at top and bottom from the top and bottom edges of the boards. In production of the case the top and bottom of the cover material are turned in to cover the edges of the boards and such turn-ins also cover the ends of the pad but not the release paper. In use, the release paper is stripped off exposing the pressure-sensitive material. The spine edge of the uncased book is forced against the pressure-sensitive material. End leaves of the book are caused to adhere to the boards.

Growing community of inventors

Redwood City, CA, United States of America

William H Abildgaard