Method of and apparatus for forming a printed web into stitched signatures

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 in which a plurality of webs are first continuously superposed in register with one another and longitudinally folded to provide a fold, and in which the stitches are formed through the superposed and folded webs in spaced relationship to the fold.

Claim 4

Apparatus for continuously forming a printed web into stitched signatures for binding, said apparatus comprisiNg, in combination: guide roller means about which a multi-ply printed web moving at a given linear speed passes after leaving a printing press; a stitching drum adjacent said guide roller means, said drum being provided with a central circumferential line of radially extending fixed needles with bifurcated tips that have prongs spaced longitudinally of the drum, said needles projecting a short distance radially from the drum and being aligned with a longitudinal line of a web on said guide roller means; means for driving the drum so that it has a predetermined surface speed and the needles have a correspondingly greater tip speed; means for controlling said given linear speed of the web so that it is substantially halfway between the surface speed of the drum and the tip speed of the needles; a thread supply and thread guide means to lay a single run of thread in said bifurcated tips, said web passing in contact with said drum so the needles in a single operation pierce spaced holes seriatim along said longitudinal line and simultaneously push a segment of said run of thread through each of said holes to form an open loop stitch with the run of thread between loops on a first surface of the web and the loops projecting from the second surface; means for applying adhesive to the thread, and to the adjacent web, in a manner to lock the thread to the web; means for folding the web continuously along said longitudinal line with the stitch loops projecting from the outer side of the fold; and means for cutting said web and thread into signature lengths.

Claim 5

Apparatus for continuously forming a printed web into stitched signatures for binding, said apparatus comprisiNg, in combination: guide roller means about which a multi-ply printed web moving at a given linear speed passes after leaving a printing press; a stitching drum adjacent said guide roller means, said drum being provided with a central circumferential line of radially extending fixed needles with bifurcated tips that have prongs spaced longitudinally of the drum, said needles projecting a short distance radially from the drum and being aligned with a longitudinal line of a web on said guide roller means; means for driving the drum so that it has a predetermined surface speed and the needles have a correspondingly greater tip speed; means for controlling said given linear speed of the web so that it is substantially halfway between the surface speed of the drum and the tip speed of the needles; a thread supply and thread guide means to lay a single run of thread in said bifurcated tips, said web passing in contact with said drum so the needles in a single operation pierce spaced holes seriatim along said longitudinal line and simultaneously push a segment of said run of thread through each of said holes to form an open loop stitch with the run of thread between loops on a first surface of the web and the loops projecting from the second surface; means for applying adhesive to the thread, and to the adjacent web, in a manner to lock the thread to the web; means for folding the web continuously along said longitudinal line with the stitch loops projecting from the outer side of the fold; and means for cutting said web and thread into signature lengths.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 in which the web folding means comprises a former board which contacts the same surface of the web as does the stitching drum, said former board having an apex aligned with said longitudinal line of the web.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 which includes means between the stitching drum and the web folding means for applying adhesive to said thread and to the immediately adjacent portion of the web, and means for immediately drying said adhesive to lock the thread to the web.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 in which the adhesive applying means contacts the surface of the web which is opposite the surface that contacts the stitching drum.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 3 in which the guide roller means comprises a plurality of spaced guide rollers on which a plurality of superposed and longitudinally folded webs are guided into alignment with the stitching drum.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 3 in which the line of needles is on the longitudinal center line of the web.

Claim 11

Apparatus for continuously forming a printed web into stitched signatures for binding, said apparatus comprising, in combination: guide roller means about which a multi-ply printed web moving at a given linear speed passes after leaving a printing press; a stitching drum adjacent said guide roller means, said drum having a broad cylindrical surface provided with a central circumferential line of radially extending fixed needles with bifurcated tips that have prongs spaced longitudinally of the drum said needles projecting a short distance radially from the drum and being aligned with a longitudinal line of a web on said guide roller means; means for driving the drum so that it has a predetermined surface speed and the needles have a correspondingly greater tip speed; means for controlling said given linear speed of the web so that it is substantially halfway between the surface speed of the drum and the tip speed of the needles; a thread supply and thread guide means to lay a single run of thread in said bifurcated tips, said web passing in planar contact with said broad cylindrical surface of the drum so the needles in a single operation pierce spaced holes seriatim along said longitudinal line and simultaneously push a segment of said run of thread through each of said holes to form an open loop stitch with the run of thread on a first surface of the web aNd the loops projecting from the second surface; means for applying adhesive to the thread, and to the adjacent web, in a manner to lock the thread to the web; means for folding the web continuously along said longitudinal line with the stitch loops projecting from the outer side of the fold; and means for cutting said web and thread into signature lengths.

Claim 12

Apparatus for continuously forming a printed web into stitched signatures for binding, said apparatus comprising, in combination: guide roller means about which a multi-ply printed web moving at a given linear speed passes after leaving a printing press; a stitching drum adjacent said guide roller means, said drum having a broad cylindrical surface provided with a central circumferential line of radially extending fixed needles with bifurcated tips that have prongs spaced longitudinally of the drum said needles projecting a short distance radially from the drum and being aligned with a longitudinal line of a web on said guide roller means; means for driving the drum so that it has a predetermined surface speed and the needles have a correspondingly greater tip speed; means for controlling said given linear speed of the web so that it is substantially halfway between the surface speed of the drum and the tip speed of the needles; a thread supply and thread guide means to lay a single run of thread in said bifurcated tips, said web passing in planar contact with said broad cylindrical surface of the drum so the needles in a single operation pierce spaced holes seriatim along said longitudinal line and simultaneously push a segment of said run of thread through each of said holes to form an open loop stitch with the run of thread on a first surface of the web aNd the loops projecting from the second surface; means for applying adhesive to the thread, and to the adjacent web, in a manner to lock the thread to the web; means for folding the web continuously along said longitudinal line with the stitch loops projecting from the outer side of the fold; and means for cutting said web and thread into signature lengths.

Claim 15

The method of claim 10 in which a plurality of webs are first continuously superposed in register with one another and longitudinally folded to provide a fold, and in which the stitches are formed through the superposed and folded webs in spaced relationship to the fold.

Claim 16

The method of claim 10 in which the open loop stitch is formed along the longitudinal center line of the web.