Machine for binding books

Claim 2

Apparatus for binding apertured sheets together using a first strip, a plurality of thermoplastic studs projecting from and spaced longitudinally along 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 a pair of spaced sides and a platen formed to receive said second strip and to support said sheets with their apertures aligned with said holes with said first strip above said sheets with said studs extending through said apertures and said holes and protruding below said second strip, a pressure bar, cooperating means on said sides and bar for guiding movement of said bar from a first position above said platen to a first position adjacent said platen and resting on top of said first strip, actuating means for engaging said bar against said first strip, said actuating means including a spring, said spring flexing when the pressure of said bar on said first strip exceeds a predetermined amount and when flexed causing said actuating means to discontinue further movement of said bar toward said platen and holding said bar in the position it occupied when said spring flexed.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said actuating means comprises a lever pivoted to said frame, a cam follower, said spring interposed between said lever and said follower, a cam engaged by said follower, and means for rotating said cam.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said actuating means further comprises a rack movable with said bar, a pinion engaging said rack, said pinion rotatably mounted in said lever, a ratchet fixed for rotation with said pinion, and a pawl movable with said cam follower and engaging said ratchet to cause said bar and follower to move together until said spring flexes.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 which further comprises a second cam movable with said first-mentioned cam, a second cam follower engaging said second cam and means controlled by said second cam follower to disengage said pawl from said ratchet to permit retraction of said bar to first position.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2 which further comprises a cam shaft on which said cam is mounted rotatable in said frame, means for turning said cam shaft through one cycle of rotation, a cutter cam on said shaft, a cutter cam follower engaging said cutter cam, a knife plate having a plurality of blades projecting therefrom, heating means for said blades, and blade actuating means under control of said cutter cam for moving said blades from a retracted position to a cutting position whereby said blades cut off the excess lengths of said studs protruding beyond said second strip and then to retract said blades to retracted position.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said blade actuating means comprises a pivot shaft on which said cutter cam follower is pivotally mounted, an eccentric mounting said pivot shaft in said frame, a knife bar raising cam on said cam shaft, a knife bar raising cam follower connected to said eccentric and engaging said knife bar raising cam to raise said knife bar and said blades toward said second strip after said blades have moved into cutting position and then to lower said blades.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 which further comprises a cooling cam on said cam shaft, a plurality of cooling fingers, a holder, said fingers movable with said holder, and a cooling cam follower on said holder engaging said cooling cam operable to move said fingers against the severed ends of said studs to form heads on said ends.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 which further comprises resilient means biasing said fingers to protrude from said holder and flexible to permit relative movement of said fingers and holder when a finger encounters an obstacle to movement.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a cam shaft rotatable in said frame, a motor operable to turn said cam shaft one revolution, said actuating means including a lever pivoted to said frame, a pressure cam follower, said spring interposed between said lever and said pressure cam follower, a pressure cam engaged by said pressure cam follower fixed on said shaft, a second cam fixed on said cam shaft, a second cam follower engaging said second cam, means controlled by said second cam follower to disengage said pawl from said ratchet to permit retraction of said bar to first position at the end of the cycle of revolution of said cam shaft, a cutter cam on said cam shaft, a cutter cam follower engaging said cutter cam, a knife plate having a plurality of blades projecting therefrom, heating means for said blades, and blade actuating means under control of said cutter cam operable after said pressure cam has actuated said actuating means for moving said blades from a retracted position to a cutting position whereby said blades cut off the excess lengths of said studs protruding beyond said second strip and then to retract said blades to retracted position, said blade actuating means including a pivot shaft on which said cuttEr cam follower is pivotally mounted, an eccentric mounting said pivot shaft in said frame, a knife bar raising cam on said cam shaft, a knife bar raising cam follower connected to said eccentric and engaging said knife bar raising cam to raise said knife bar and said blades toward said second strip after said blades have moved into cutting position and then to lower said blades, a cooling cam on said cam shaft, a plurality of cooling fingers, a holder, said fingers movable with said holder, and a cooling cam follower on said holder engaging said cooling cam operable to move said fingers against the severed ends of said studs to form heads on said ends after said blades have been lowered by said knife bar raising cam and retracted by said cutter cam.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a substantially vertical stop between said sides and above said platen and horizontally reciprocable relative to said sides, guide means on said sides and stop restricting said stop to horizontal-longitudinal movement and resilient means biasing said stop forwardly.