Cheshire binder cooling rack

Abstract

Apparatus for enhancing the bond between a plurality of pages and a binding strip wherein heat activated adhesive is employed for affixing the binding strip to the pages to form a book. The apparatus is characterized by the provision of a heat conductive plate for dissipating heat from the adhesive, binding strip and pages and further characterized by the provision of means for effecting intimate contact between the binding strip and the pages and for maintaining planar orientation of the pages.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in general, to bookbinding apparatus and more particularly, to apparatus for enhancing the bond between a plurality of pages and a binding member wherein heat activated adhesive material is employed for such purposes.

In the process of binding a plurality of pages into a book by means of heat activated adhesives utilized in conjunction with a binding strip, it is desirable to provide a cooling step and associated apparatus therefor in order to complete the binding process without degradation of the bind and also in a minimal amount of time.

In the type of apparatus contemplated for affixing a binding strip to the pages to be formed into a book, the pages are simultaneously supported at one edge thereof such that they contact an adhesive coated binding strip. One or more heaters are provided for softening the adhesive material.

In order to effect the most satisfactory bind in an apparatus of the foregoing type, it is desirable to provide for heat removal from the adhesive while effecting intimate contact between the binding strip and the pages. Moreover, it is important that the pages remain in a planar orientation during the final step of the binding process. Heretofore, apparatus for binding a plurality of pages into a book have not met with total acceptance in regard to the foregoing. For example, when the cooling step is carried out in the binding apparatus the binding cycle is unnecessarily long.

Accordingly, it is the principle object of this invention to provide apparatus for enhancing the bond between a plurality of pages and a binding strip wherein heat activated adhesive is employed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cooling rack for removing heat from heat activated adhesive employed in a bookbinding process while maintaining intimate contact between an adhesive coated binding strip and a plurality of pages forming the book.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for maintaining a plurality of sheets in a planar orientation while heat is removed from adhesive material forming a bond between the pages and a binding strip.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the above-cited objects are accomplished by the provision of a rack comprising a cooling plate which is adapted to support a plurality of pages in intimate contact with a binding strip for the purpose of removing heat from adhesive material employed for affixing the binding strip to the pages in order to form a book.

The cooling plate is oriented at an angle relative to a horizontal surface on which it is supported. A generally upstanding support member cooperates with the cooling plate to support the pages in a compacted and planar orientation while a plurality of spring members cooperate with the cooling plate to effect intimate contact between the binding strip and the pages.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when considered in view of the following detailed description and drawings forming a part hereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a book cooling rack representing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the cooling rack of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the rack of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, reference character 10 designates it generally a book cooling apparatus in the form of a rack capable of simultaneously supporting a plurality of books 12, only two being shown, which books are formed by affixing a binding strip to a plurality of loose sheets of paper. Six books having thicknesses up to 11/2 inches and an overall length of 147/8 inches can be accomodated by the rack 10, however, it will be appreciated that the rack could be enlarged to accommodate a greater number of books as well as larger books.

The cooling rack 10 comprises a generally rectangular-shaped, thermally conductive plate structure 14 (FIG. 2). The structure 14 may be fabricated from a suitable material and in a well known manner, for example, it may be cast from aluminum. A pair of trapezoidal-shaped member 16 support the plate structure at the sides thereof such that it is oriented at an angle of approximately 15.degree. with a horizontal surface on which the apparatus is utilized.

The underside of the plate structure 14 may be provided with a plurality of ribs as indicated at 18. The ribs preferably extend from front to rear of the plate so as to enhance convective cooling of the angularly supported plate structure by allowing for heated air from lower portions of the plate to rise. To this end, the front of the book cooling apparatus is open at the front thereof, see FIG. 2.

A plurality of L-shaped support members 20 are attached to the plate structure 14 by suitable fastening means, for example, screws (not shown) which captivate the foot portions of the L-shaped members. The support members are approximately equally spaced one from the other and are positioned one behind the other. Each of the members 20 forms an angle of approximately 90.degree. with the plate structure 14 and, therefore, as viewed in FIG. 1, the top thereof is inclined towards the front of the apparatus which is at the right of FIG. 1. Such inclination allows gravity to cause the pages of the book 12 to rest squarely against the members 20 so as to prevent separation of the lower edges of the pages which would be the tendency if the plate 14 were horizontally oriented and the L-shaped supports vertically oriented.

As can be seen (FIG. 1) the book 12 comprising individual pages 26 and U-shaped binding strip 28 rests squarely on the plate structure 14 and against the L-shaped support members 20. It will be appreciated that the weight of the pages will affect intimate contact between the page edges and the central portion of the U-shaped binding strip 28. In order to effect intimate contact between the upstanding or side portions of the U-shaped binding strip and the outer pages forming the book a plurality of biasing members in the form of springs 30 are provided. In actual practice covers 27 which sandwich the pages are provided and the side portions of the binding strip are affixed to such covers.

The springs 30 are supported by the L-shaped supports 20 such that the end of a non-supported portion 32 thereof contacts the binding strip to thereby effect intimate engagement between the covers and the sides of the binding strip. Each of the springs 30 may be supported in any suitable manner, for example, as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 3, by a pair of fingers 34 formed by punched out areas 36 of the numbers 20. The fingers 34 captivate the springs in their operable positions. Of course, any other suitable means may be provided. The unsupported portions 32 of the springs are provided at 37 with rounded areas which prevent catching of the binding strip thereby upon removal of books from the cooling rack 10.

As viewed in FIG. 2, the top surface of the plate structure 14 is provided with a plurality of recesses 38 positioned intermediate the sides thereof and extending in a front to rear direction. The recesses provide areas where the ends of the books in the area of the binding strip do not contact the surface of the plate structure. This arrangement prevents the adhesive from being squeezed beyond the ends of the book which if not prevented could result in unsatisfactory operation of the apparatus resulting in unsatisfactorily bound books. The recesses are spaced so that books 8, 81/2, 101/2, 11, 14 and 147/8 inches in length can be accommodated. The right-most recess as viewed from the left in FIG. 2 is disposed adjacent an index or reference plate 40 which is utilized for properly positioning the books in the rack.

Another purpose for the recesses is to insure that the book lies flat on the plate structure 14. In order to appreciate the foregoing, it should be pointed out that a heat platen forming a part of the apparatus for making the books 12 is provided with recesses similar to the recesses 38. When certain size books are formed, intermediate portions of the binding strip extend over the recesses which results in portions of the adhesive not being completely softened. This can produce a book with an irregular binding strip surface. Consequently, the recesses 38 compensate or allow for such irregularity.

An apparatus for forming such books is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,921, granted Jan. 29, 1974 on an application filed on Dec. 6, 1971 in the name of N. A. Polit, et al. and assigned to the Assignee of the instant application. It is intended that the foregoing application be incorporated hereinby reference.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above disclosed apparatus and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for enhancing the bond between a plurality of pages and a binding strip wherein heat activated adhesive is employed for affixing the binding strip to said pages to form a book, said apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive plate structure for dissipating heat from said adhesive;

means for supporting said pages and said binding strip on said conductive plate structure and for effecting intimate contact between said pages and said binding strip and for maintaining said pages in a planar orientation; and

means for supporting said plate whereby a space is provided intermediate said plate and a surface on which said apparatus is supported and whereby said plate is disposed at an angle relative to said surface, said thermally conductive plate comprising a ribbed configuration opposite said surface to thereby enhance heat extraction from said plate.

2. Apparatus for enhancing the bond between a plurality of pages and a binding strip wherein heat activated adhesive is employed for affixing the binding strip to said pages to form a book, said apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive plate structure for dissipating heat from said adhesive;

means for supporting said pages and said binding strip on said conductive plate structure and for effecting intimate contact between said pages and said binding strip and for maintaining said pages in a planar orientation; and

means for supporting said plate whereby a space is provided intermediate said plate and a surface on which said apparatus is supported and whereby said plate is disposed at an angle relative to said surface, the surface of said plate that contacts said binding strip including a plurality of indentations which accomodate the ends of the book in order to prevent runout of adhesive.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for effecting intimate contact between said pages and said binding strip comprises a plurality of spring members which urge the ends of covers between which said pages are sandwiched and portions of said binding member into intimate contact.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for maintaining planar orientation of said pages comprises at least one generally upstanding support member which cooperates with said thermally conductive plate to provide an angular orientation of said pages relative to the surface on which said apparatus rests during operation.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said plate is supported at approximately an angle of 15.degree. with respect to said surface and said at least one support member is disposed approximately perpendicular to said plate.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said binding strip has a generally U-shaped configuration in cross section and wherein said spring members engage the leg portions of said binding member.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the portion of each of said spring members engaging said binding member is provided with a rounded surface to prevent pulling on the binding strip when books are removed.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said springs are positioned along the length of said binding strip.