Sheet binding machine

Claim 2

A MACHINE FOR BINDING A STACK OF SHEETS BY APPLYING A STRIP OF FLEXIBLE HEAT SOFTENABLE BINDING MATERIAL TO A SPINE EDTE OF THE STACK, SAID MACHINE INCLUDING: A FRAME; FIRST AND SECOND CLAMPS EACH HAVING TWO CLAMP MEMBERS RELATIVELY MOVABLE BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION AFFORDING MANUAL INSERTION OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS BETWEEN SAID CLAMP MEMBERS AND A CLAMPING POSITION ADAPTED TO CLAMP A SAID STACK OF SHEETS BETWEEN SAID CLAMP MEMBERS ON OPPOSITE SURFACES THEREOF; CUTTER MEANS ADAPTED FOR TRANSVERSELY SCORING THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS IN EITHER OF SAID CLAMPS WHEN ITS CLAMP MEMBERS ARE IN SAID CLAMPING POSITION, SAID CUTTER MEANS BEING MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A CUTTER PATH FROM A DISENGAGED POSITION BETWEEN SAID CLAMPS IN A FIRST DIRECTION TO AFFORD CUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS OM SAID FIRST CLAMP AND IN A SECOND OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO AFFORD CUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS IN SAID SECOND CLAMP; A PLATEN HAVING A SUPPORT SURFACE, SAID PLATEN BEING MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT FROM A RECEIVING POSITION BETWEEN SAID CLAMPS TO A FIRST APPLYING POSITION WITH SAID SUPPORT SURFACE ADJACENT THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS IN SAID FIRST CLAMP AND IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO A SECOND APPLYING POSITION WITH SAID SUPPORT SURFACE ADJACENT THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS IN SAID SECOND CLAMP; DISPENSING MEANS ADAPTED FOR DISPENSING A SAID STRIP OF BINDING MATERIAL TO THE SUPPORT SURFACE OF SAID PLATEN WHEN THE PLATEN IS AT SAID RECEIVING POSITION; MEANS FOR HEATING SAID SUPPORT SURFACE ADAPTED TO HEAT AND SOFTEN A SAID STRIP OF BINDING MATERIAL ON SAID SUPPORT SURFACE; AND MEANS AFFORDING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN EITHER ONE OF SAID CLAMPS AND SAID PLATEN WHEN SAID PLATEN IS ADJACENT THE CLAMP FOR PRESSING THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS IN THE CLAMP INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A SAID STRIP OF HEATED BINDING MATERIAL ON SAID SUPPORT SURFACE.

Claim 3

A machine according to claim 1, wherein each one of said clamps is mounted on said frame for independent movement along a clamp path between a first position and a second position, said cutter means is adapted to engage a said stack of sheets in either one of the clamps upon movement along the cutter path toward that clamp when the clamp is in the first position, said platen is movable to the applying position to position a said strip of binding material thereon in closely spaced relationship from the spine edge of a said stack of sheets in either one of the clamps when the clamp is in said second position, and said machine further includes; biasing means for biasing each of said clamps toward said first position when the clamp is in said second position; clamp operating means coupled to each of said clamps for moving said clamp members between said open position and said clamping position; cutter drive means for cycling said cutter means along said cutter path from said disengaged position to afford cutting engagement with the spine edge of a said stack in either one of said clamps and back to said disengaged position; platen drive means for moving said platen between said receiving position and said applying position; clamp positioning means coupled to each one of said clamps for sequentially (1) moving the clamp from said first position to said second position, (2) allowing movement of the clamp toward said first position to afford emgagement between the spine edge of a said stack of sheets in said clamp and a said strip of binding material on said platen under the influence of said biasing means when said platen is in said applying position, (3) moving said clamp to said second position, and (4) returning said clamp to said first position; and control means for operating said clamp operating means, cutter drive means, dispensing means, platen drive means and clamp positioning means to initially position one of said clamps at said first position with its clamp members in the open position, said cutter means in the disengaged position, and said platen in said receiving position, and upon manual insertion of a said stack of sheets in the clamp sequentially to (b 0) move the clamping members to the clamping position, (2) cycle said cutter means to transversely groove the spine edge of the stack of sheets, (3) move the clamp to the second position and dispense a said strip of the binding material to said platen, (4) move said platen to said applying position adjacent the clamp, (5) allow movement of the clamp toward said first position to engage the spine edge of the stack of sheets with the heated strip of binding material, (6) return the clamp to said second position and said platen to said receiving position, (7) move the clamp to said first position, and (8) move the clamping members to said release position to afford manual removal of the bound stack.

Claim 4

A machine according to claim 2, wherein said dispensing means is adapted to dispense a said strip of binding material having a predetermined width which is wider than the width of the spine edge of a said stack to which it is to be applied, and includes means to position a said dispensed strip of binding material on said heated support surface to center said strip of binding material beneath the spine edge of a said stack of sheets in the adjacent clamp when said platen is in said applying position; and said machine further includes jaw means positioned on said frame along the clamp path of each one of said clamps adapted for engagement with the edges of a said strip of binding material extending beyond the spine edge of a said stack of sheets in the clamp to press said edges into engagement with the adjacent surfaces of the stack of sheets upon movement of the clamp from said second position to said first position.

Claim 5

A machine according to claim 1, wherein each clamp in said machine further includes: a plate having a contact surface and being mounted on said frame for movement between a first position with said contact surface extending across an end of said clamp members to engage the spine edge of a said stack of sheets inserted between said clamp members when the clamp members are in the open position, and a second position with said contact surface spaced from said end of the clamp members, said plate being adapted for engagement by said cutter means to move said plate toward said second position upon movement of said cutter means along said cutter path toward the clamp; and means for biasing said plate toward said first position.

Claim 6

A machine according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means comprises: a hopper adapted to receive a roll of said binding material, said hopper including means adapted for rotatably mounting a said roll of said binding material in said hopper, and wall means for providing a guide chute for an end of a roll of binding material rotatably mounted in said hopper, said guide chute having an outlet end adjacent one side of said support surface when said platen is in the receiving position; a knife; means mounting said knife for movement along the outlet end of said guide chute to sever a said strip of binding material projecting beyond said outlet end of the guide chute; a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the guide chute and adapted for driving engagement with the opposite surfaces of a said end of a said roll of said binding material in the guide chute; roller drive means for rotating said rollers to drive the end of said roll of binding material through said guide chute; support plates projecting toward each other from opposite ends of said hopper between said hopper and said platen to receive a said strip of binding material severed by said knife; and means on said platen adapted to engage and remove a said strip of binding material from said support plates upon movement of said platen from said receiving position toward one of said applying positions.

Claim 7

A machine according to claim 1, wherein said machine further includes means coupled between the clamp members for each of said clamps and said dispensing means to operate said dispensing means for a time proportionate to the spacing between said clamp members in said clamping position to dispense a said strip of binding material having a width proportionate to the thickness of a said stack of sheets in said clamp.