Method and apparatus for binding books

Claim 2

Apparatus for binding apertured sheets together using a first strip, a plurality of studs projecting from and spaced lonGitudinally relative to said first strip and a second strip formed with holes spaced longitudinally of said second strip at intervals complementary to said studs, said apparatus comprising a frame having second strip locating means shaped to receive said second strip, a binding platen adjacent said locating means to support said apertured sheets with their apertures aligned with said holes, a pressure bar movably slidable on said frame formed to engage said first strip and to press said strips toward each other with said studs extending through said apertures and said holes and projecting beyond said second strip, cooperating means on said frame and said pressure bar to move said pressure bar toward said first-mentioned means to bring said strips together with said studs projecting through said holes, said cooperating means including a spring flexible when said pressure bar applies a predetermined pressure on said strips to limit said pressure and to maintain said pressure constant for the remainder of the cycle of operation of said apparatus, and cutting means mounted on said frame and movable to cut off the ends of said studs projecting through said second strip.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said cooperating means comprises a pressure bar motor mounted on said frame, means articulately connecting said motor and said pressure bar, and cooperating guide means on said frame and said pressure bar, said motor forcing said pressure bar in a direction perpendicular to said platen to compress said strips toward each other.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said guide means comprises at least one slot having an angularly disposed upper end and said pressure bar has a guide roller fitting in said slot, said slot and guide roller displacing said pressure bar at the upper end of its movement out of said direction perpendicular to said platen.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said motor advances said pressure bar through a resiliently-biased lost motion connection which flexes as pressure of said pressure bar on said strips increases, and which further comprises a switch actuated by flexure of said connection a pre-selected distance, said switch de-energizing said motor after such flexure through said predetermined distance to regulate the maximum pressure of said pressure bar on said strips.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2 which further comprises a first reversing switch contacted by said pressure bar at the limit of the retractive movement of said bar, a second reversing switch contacted by said bar at an intermediate position of the retractive movement of said bar, an electric circuit, said motor being energized in either direction by said circuit, a manual switch selectively connecting either said first or said second reversing switch into said circuit, said circuit terminating energization of said pressure bar motor in a retractive direction either at a fully retracted position or an intermediate position.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a punching platen on said frame, a plurality of punches, a punch motor, and means connecting said punch motor for reciprocation of said punches.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said second strip is formed with at least one second hole spaced offset relative to said first-mentioned holes, and which further comprises a locating pin projecting from said second strip locating means dimensioned to fit into said second hole and to further locate said second strip laterally of said apparatus.

Claim 9

Apparatus for binding apertured sheets together using a first strip, a plurality of studs projecting from and spaced longitudinally relative to said first strip and a second strip formed with holes spaced longitudinally of said second strip at intervals complementary to said studs, said apparatus comprising a frame having second strip locating means shaped to receive said second strip, a binding platen adjacent said locating means to support said apertured sheets with theIr apertures aligned with said holes, a pressure bar movably slidable on said frame formed to engage said first strip and to press said strips toward each other with said studs extending through said apertures and said holes and projecting beyond said second strip, cooperating means on said frame and said pressure bar to move said pressure bar toward said first-mentioned means to bring said strips together with said studs projecting through said holes, cutting means mounted on said frame and movable to cut off the ends of said studs projecting through said second strip, and a plurality of heading means mounted on said frame and actuating means for advancing said heading means against the stub ends of studs cut off by said cutting means to form heads on said ends securing said studs and said strips in assembled position and for retracting said heading means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for binding apertured sheets together using a first strip, a plurality of studs projecting from and spaced longitudinally relative to said first strip and a second strip formed with holes spaced longitudinally of said second strip at intervals complementary to said studs, said apparatus comprising a frame having second strip locating means shaped to receive said second strip, a binding platen adjacent said locating means to support said apertured sheets with theIr apertures aligned with said holes, a pressure bar movably slidable on said frame formed to engage said first strip and to press said strips toward each other with said studs extending through said apertures and said holes and projecting beyond said second strip, cooperating means on said frame and said pressure bar to move said pressure bar toward said first-mentioned means to bring said strips together with said studs projecting through said holes, cutting means mounted on said frame and movable to cut off the ends of said studs projecting through said second strip, and a plurality of heading means mounted on said frame and actuating means for advancing said heading means against the stub ends of studs cut off by said cutting means to form heads on said ends securing said studs and said strips in assembled position and for retracting said heading means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 which further comprises heating means on said cutting means to heat and make plastic said ends, whereby said heading means upset said plastic ends, said heading means being heat conductive to cool said ends.

Claim 12

Apparatus for binding apertured sheets together using a first strip, a plurality of studs projecting from and spaced longitudinally relative to said first strip and a second strip formed with holes spaced longitudinally of said second strip at intervals complementary to said studs, said apparatus comprising a frame having second strip locating means shaped to receive said second strip, a binding platen adjacent said locating means to support said apertured sheets with their apertures aligned with said holes, a pressure bar movably slidable on said frame formed to engage said first strip and to press said strips toward each other with said studs extending through said apertures and said holes and projecting beyond said second strip, cooperating means on said frame and said pressure bar to move said pressure bar toward said first-mentioned means to bring said strips together with said studs projecting through said holes, and cutting means mounted on said frame and movable to cut off the ends of said studs projecting through said second strip, said cutting means comprising a plurality of blades, means reciprocating said blades in a direction transverse to said studs and heating means to heat said blades.

Claim 13

Apparatus for binding apertured sheets together using a first strip, a plurality of studs projecting from and spaced longitudinally relative to said first strip and a second strip formed with holes spaced longitudinally of said second strip at intervals complementary to said studs, said apparatus comprising a frame having second strip locating means shaped to receive said second strip, a binding platen adjacent said locating means to support said apertured sheets with their apertures aligned with said holes, a pressure bar movably slidable on said frame formed to engage said first strip and to press said strips toward each other with said studs extending through said apertures and said holes and projecting beyond said second strip, cooperating means on said frame and said pressure bar to move said pressure bar toward said first-mentioned means to bring said strips together with said studs projecting through said holes, and cutting means mounted on said frame and movable to cut off the ends of said studs projecting through said second strip, said cutting means comprising a plurality of blades, means reciprocating said blades in a direction transverse to said studs and heating means to heat said blades.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10 which further comprises means for reciprocating said blades in a direction toward said second strip to form heads on the stub ends of cut studs.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 which further comprises means for holding said blades stationary in close proximity to said second strip to melt said heads to debind said strips.

Claim 16

Apparatus for binding apertured sheets together using a first strip, a plurality of studs projecting from and spaced longitudinally relative to said first strip and a second strip formed with holes spaced longitudinally of said second strip at intervals complementary to said studs, said apparatus comprising a frame having second strip locating means shaped to receive said second strip, a binding platen adjacent said locating means to support said apertured sheets with their apertures aligned with said holes, a pressure bar movably slidable on said frame formed to engage said first strip and to press said strips toward each other with said studs extending through said apertures and said holes and projecting beyond said second strip, cooperating means on said frame and said pressure bar to move said pressure bar toward said first-mentioned means to bring said strips together with said studs projecting through said holes, and cutting means mounted on said frame and movable to cut off the ends of said studs projecting through said second strip, said cutting means comprising a casing, a plurality of blades projecting from said casing, a heater in said casing to heat said blades, a cam, means for rotating said cam, follower means actuated by said cam articulately connected to said casing for first moving said casing towaRd said studs so that said blades cut said studs and then moving said casing so that said blades move toward said second strip to deform the severed stub ends of said studs to form heads on said studs and then retracting said casing to initial position.

Claim 17

Apparatus for binding apertured sheets together using a first strip, a plurality of studs projecting from and spaced longitudinally relative to said first strip and a second strip formed with holes spaced longitudinally of said second strip at intervals complementary to said studs, said apparatus comprising a frame having second strip locating means shaped to receive said second strip, a binding platen adjacent said locating means to support said apertured sheets with their apertures aligned with said holes, a pressure bar movably slidable on said frame formed to engage said first strip and to press said strips toward each other with said studs extending through said apertures and said holes and projecting beyond said second strip, cooperating means on said frame and said pressure bar to move said pressure bar toward said first-mentioned means to bring said strips together with said studs projecting through said holes, and cutting means mounted on said frame and movable to cut off the ends of said studs projecting through said second strip, said cutting means comprising a casing, a plurality of blades projecting from said casing, a heater in said casing to heat said blades, a cam, means for rotating said cam, follower means actuated by said cam articulately connected to said casing for first moving said casing towaRd said studs so that said blades cut said studs and then moving said casing so that said blades move toward said second strip to deform the severed stub ends of said studs to form heads on said studs and then retracting said casing to initial position.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13 which further comprises forming fingers, means on said frame mounting said fingers for reciprocation toward and away from said second strip, and second follower means actuated by said cam for moving said fingers toward said severed ends to shape said heads, said fingers being heat conductive to cool and set said heads.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 15 in which said step of forming heads is performed by moving said blades into contact with the severed stubs of said studs to make said stubs thermoplastic and then moving said blades toward said second strip to deform said stubs into heads.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 16 which further comprises withdrawing said blades and then moving second members toward said heads to shape and cool said heads.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 17 in which the face of said second strip opposite said sheets is formed with counterbores aligned with said holes, said members shaping said heads to substantially fill said counterbores.