U.S. patent number 3,825,963 [Application Number 05/291,206] was granted by the patent office on 1974-07-30 for method and apparatus for casing books and product thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Velo-Bind, Inc.. Invention is credited to William H. Abildgaard, Charles T. Groswith, III.
United States Patent |
3,825,963 |
Abildgaard , et al. |
July 30, 1974 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASING BOOKS AND PRODUCT THEREOF
Abstract
In one form of the invention, a case for a book has a spine
strip of cover material coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive in
the spine area and initially separate covers on either side of the
spine area. A pad of resilient material such as polyurethane foam
is positioned in the center of the spine area of the case and is
coated on its exposed surface with pressure-sensitive adhesive
initially protected by release paper, which is removed prior to
attachment of an uncased book thereto. The spine strip overlaps the
spine edges of the covers and is secured thereto by the
pressure-sensitive material. The uncased book is preferably
provided with end leaves having pressure-sensitive adhesive
initially protected with release paper fabricated in a manner to
facilitate stripping off the release paper. Apparatus used to case
the book has a table on which the case is positioned and clamps
pivoted to the table, and movable relative to each other depending
on the thickness of the uncased book. In a preferred form of the
invention, edge guides for the covers move inward and outward in
relation to movement of the clamps toward and away from each other
to center the covers relative to the uncased book. The method
consists in pivoting the clamp to bring the spine edge of the
uncased book into contact with the pressure-sensitive spine pad of
the case and then to strip away the release paper from the end
leaves so that the latter adhere to the insides of the top and
bottom covers of the case.
Inventors: |
Abildgaard; William H. (Los
Altos Hills, CA), Groswith, III; Charles T. (Los Altos,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Velo-Bind, Inc. (Sunnyvale,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
26844137 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/291,206 |
Filed: |
September 22, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
146648 |
May 25, 1971 |
3749422 |
Jul 31, 1973 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
412/21;
412/901 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42B
5/08 (20130101); B42C 11/04 (20130101); B42D
1/02 (20130101); Y10S 412/901 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B42B
5/08 (20060101); B42D 1/02 (20060101); B42C
11/04 (20060101); B42D 1/00 (20060101); B42B
5/00 (20060101); B42C 11/00 (20060101); B42c
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;11/1R,3,4 ;281/21R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Charles; Lawrence
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Caplan; Julian
Parent Case Text
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Pat. application
Ser. No. 146,648, filed May 25, 1971 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,422
issued July 31, 1973.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for assembling an uncased book to a case of the type
having a flexible spine section having an exposed
pressure-sensitive inside surface comprising a table dimensioned to
support said case laid out substantially flat with said
pressure-sensitive inside surface uppermost, clamp means
dimensioned to support an uncased book with its spine edge exposed
and connecting means connecting said clamp means to said table
whereby said clamp means may be moved toward said table and the
spine edge of a book held in said clamp means and said inside
surface forced into engagement with each other, said clamp means
comprising a pair of plates located transverse to said table, means
for moving said plates toward and away from each other to
accommodate books of varying thickness, and guide means
inter-connecting said plates to maintain said plates substantially
parallel, said guide means further comprising support means for
said uncased book locating said uncased book relative to said
case.
2. Apparatus for assembling an uncased book to a case of the type
having a flexible spine section having an exposed
pressure-sensitive inside surface comprising a table dimensioned to
support said case laid out substantially flat with said
pressure-sensitive inside surface uppermost, clamp means
dimensioned to support an uncased book with its spine edge exposed
and connecting means connecting said clamp means to said table
whereby said clamp means may be moved toward said table and the
spine edge of a book held in said clamp means and said inside
surface forced into engagement with each other of the middle of
said case, said clamp means comprising a pair of plates located
transverse to said table, and means for moving said plates toward
and away from each other to accommodate books of varying thickness,
adjustable means on said table movable toward and away from said
clamp means to engage the outer edges of said case to center said
case relative to said clamp means.
Description
This invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus
for casing books and to the product thereof.
A principal object and advantage of the present invention is to
greatly reduce the number of operations required to case an uncased
book. The labor required is very materially reduced; the use of
existing bindery equipment is almost entirely eliminated; and the
amount of additional equipment required is minimal and inexpensive.
More particularly, conventional book binding requires a large
number of sewing, gluing, beading and rounding steps, each of which
normally requires specialized equipment and, further, the casing in
of the uncased book requires gluing and fabricating steps. All of
the foregoing steps are either eliminated or greatly simplified by
practice of the present invention.
A further feature of the invention is the reduction in the amount
of skilled labor required. The operator of the equipment used to
practice the present invention does not require extensive training
in order to practice the method of the invention.
One of the particular features of the invention is the fact that
pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied to the end leaves of the
book. In accordance with conventional manufacturing practices, the
pressure-sensitive adhesive is first applied to release paper which
has previously been coated so that when the adhesive is brought
into contact with the end leaf, the adhesive sticks to the end leaf
and does not stick well to the release paper. Accordingly, when the
release paper is stripped off, the pressure-sensitive adhesive
remains with the end leaf and is exposed.
Another feature of the invention is the assembling of the uncased
book to its case. After the spine edge of the uncased book is
caused to adhere to pressure-sensitive material which is positioned
on the spine area of the case, the release paper for the
pressure-sensitive material of the end leaf is removed, and the end
leaves are then caused to adhere to the inside of the covers of the
case.
Another principal feature and advantage of the invention is the
provision of a rapid and convenient means for locating the case and
the book relative to each other.
Still another feature of the invention is the provision for rapid
and convenient means for attachment of the book to the spine of the
case.
A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a
rapid and convenient means for attachment of the end leaves to the
case.
An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method
for assembly of the uncased book and the case with the use of
equipment which resembles in appearance, size and ease of operation
standard office equipment. Further, the operation of the equipment
requires relatively unskilled labor.
Other features of the invention are the substantial reduction in
the initial cost of equipment required to assemble the uncased book
and case, a substantial reduction in floor space required as
compared with commercial binderies, and the reduction in
maintenance costs of the equipment.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved
book construction. In accordance with a preferred form of the
invention, the book comprises a case having front and back covers
and spine covering for the spine area of the book which overlaps
the spine edges of the covers. Initially, the spine covering
projects outward beyond the top and bottom edges of the front and
back covers and is then turned inward to form top and bottom
turn-ins which conceal the top and bottom spine edges. Centrally
disposed in the spine area is a pad of resilient material such as
polyurethane foam. Preferably, both the spine material and the pad
are coated with pressure-sensitive material which is initially
protected by a release paper. At the time of assembly of the
uncased book to the case, the release paper is stripped from the
spine material, the spine marginal edges of the front and back
covers are caused to adhere to the spine material, the extensions
at top and bottom are turned in and thereupon the spine edge of the
uncased book is brought into contact with the pad and adheres
thereto.
The foregoing book construction provides great utility in that a
case for a book can be assembled which fits the thickness of the
uncased book without special fabrication of the spine. In other
words, a single spine strip provided with a resilient pad will
accommodate a wide range of book thicknesses. The extent to which
the spine material overlaps the spine margins of the front and back
covers is dependent upon the thickness of the uncased book.
Accordingly, the different sizes of cases which must be stocked to
accommodate a range of thicknesses of uncased books is materially
reduced.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon
reading the following specification and referring to the
accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference
represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of book in accordance with
the present invention and the case therefor with the release paper
for the end leaves still in position, one of the covers being
open.
FIG. 1A is a fragmentary, sectional view to the structure of FIG. 1
with the covers closed and release papers removed.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially broken away in section, of one
form of apparatus for assembling an uncased book and case.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view from the right of FIG. 3
FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the structure of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the structure of FIG. 2,
partially broken away to reveal interior construction.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another form of book in accordance
with the present invention and the case therefor with the release
paper still in position, the covers of the book being open.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the book of FIG. 6 fully assembled
and partially broken away in section to reveal internal
construction.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 of modified
apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the modification of FIG.
8.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of the structure of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, schematic, perspective view illustrating
steps in the practice of the method of construction of the book of
FIG. 6.
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a spine covering in
accordance with FIGS. 6 and 7.
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,929 wherein an uncased
book 41 which may be used with the present invention is illustrated
and described. It will be understood that the uncased book may be
considerably modified from that shown in said application in that
the book may be fabricated by sewing, gluing, stapling or other
means. However, the book shown in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,929 is a
preferred construction. Such a book 41 is formed of a plurality of
sheets 21 formed with apertures 22 adjacent the spine margins
thereof. The uncased book is held together by means of a first
plastic strip 26 having integral projecting thermoplastic studs 27
spaced to fit through the holes 22 and a second plastic strip 29
formed with similarly spaced holes 31 preferably having external
counterbores 32 in which rivet heads 33 are formed on the severed
ends of studs 27 by passing a hot knife through said studs spaced
beyond said second strip and then moving the hot knife toward the
second strip to form rivet-like heads on said studs. Apparatus and
method for thus fabricating a book are claimed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,608,117. Other apparatus may be used. End leaves 23 are provided
which fit on the top and bottom of the stack of sheets 21, the
spine marginal edges of the end leaves 23 being apertured and
receiving the same studs 27 which secure the sheets 21 to the
strips 26, 29.
One of the features of the present application is the use of
pressure-sensitive adhesive 36 on at least a portion of each end
leaf 23. Initially, such adhesive 36 is protected from contact with
other objects by release paper 37. Release paper 37, as
conventionally manufactured, is ordinary Kraft paper which is
coated with polyethylene on both sides so that the paper does not
absorb solvents or moisture and the polyethylene coating is stable.
At least the side of the release paper to which the adhesive is
applied is coated with a silicone material to facilitate
stripping.
Adhesive 36 is usually an acrylic, cross-linked acrylic, nitrile
rubber or other polymer which is initially dissolved in a solvent
as commercially available. A coating between 4 and 6 mils thick is
applied to the silicone coated surface of the release paper 37 and
then the solvent is driven off by drying in an oven so that the
adhesive layer 36 is about 1 mil or less in thickness. Such release
paper 37 coated with adhesive 36 is then laminated to the end leaf
23 and rolled so that the adhesive 36 sticks to the end leaf 23.
The fabrication of the end leaf 23, adhesive 36 and release paper
37 is an adaptation of general commercial practice in the
pressure-sensitive adhesive art. In accordance with the present
invention, in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, a slit 38
is formed in the release paper 37 immediately outside each strip 26
or 29. By pulling the release paper 37 away from the adhesive 36
commencing at the slip 38, the release paper is removed, exposing
the adhesive 36. When the top cover 56 of the case 46 is closed,
adhesive 36 causes the end leaf 23 to adhere to the inside cover,
as subsequently explained, and thus the case and cover are
assembled.
Case 46 is likewise subject to variation. One preferred form, shown
in FIGS. 1-5, employs cover material 47 of vinyl, leather or other
suitable substance and to the center of the case 46 extending
vertically in the completed book is a resilient spine strip 48
which is pressure-sensitive on both surfaces and is preferably
originally covered by release paper 48a (see FIG. 2) which is
stripped off at the commencement of the assembling operation.
Immediately to the outside of the strip 48 is a hinge forming area
49 which is the thinnest part of the case. Immediately outside of
each hinge forming area 49 are boards 51 of cardboard or similar
material. The top and bottom margins of the cover material 47 are
folded inward in top and bottom turnins 52 at the top and bottom
edges of the book, only partially covering the boards 51.
Similarly, on each outer edge an edge turnin 53 of the material 47
is formed and the corners 54 are preferably mitered, all as in
accordance with conventional case manufacturing operations. Thus,
front and back covers 56 and an intermediate central spine cover 57
are provided. In the ultimate fabrication of the book, hinge
creases 58 are formed immediately inward of covers 56 and beads 59
formed immediately inward of the hinge creases 58.
In assembling the uncased book 41 to the case 46 of FIGS. 1-1A, as
is further set forth in the description of FIGS. 2-5, the spine
edge of the uncased book 41 is caused to adhere to the
pressure-sensitive resilient spine strip 48. The completion of this
operation is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the top cover 56
(and the bottom cover as well) is unfinished in that the board 51
is shown merely covered by the turned in top and bottom portions 52
and edge turnin 53. The ultimate position of the end leaf 23 which
conceals the board 51 is shown in dot-and-dash lines in the inside
of top cover 56.
In the form shown in FIG. 1, slit 38 is formed extending from top
to bottom of the release paper 37 immediately inside the hinged
area 58. As a further step in the completion of the book, the
release paper 37 is peeled back from the adhesive 36 of the end
leaf 23, the beginning of this operation being shown in the
dot-and-dash line portion of the uncased book 41 of FIG. 1. The
release paper 37 is completely removed and the top cover 56 is then
closed causing the adhesive 36 to adhere to the inside of the board
51 and the portions of the turned-in portions 52, 52 and 53 within
the dot-and-dash lines. The end leaf 23 then permanently adheres to
the cover 56.
As shown in FIG. 6, adhesive 36a is preferably applied only
partially over the width of the release paper 37a but terminates in
line 64 spaced inward from the left-hand margin of the paper 23a.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, when the release paper 37a is
peeled back, the edge 64 of the adhesive 36a is spaced outward of
the inner margin of the end leaf 23a a predetermined distance. The
space between the edge 64 and the inner edge of the sheet 23a
provides room for the plastic strip 26a. To facilitate stripping of
the release paper 37a, a folded over portion of extended width is
connected to the outer edge of end leaf 23e. Sheet 66 is then
folded to overlie the release paper 37a so that the area where the
strip 26a is to be applied is clear and accessible during the
makeup of the uncased book. After the uncased book is inserted in
the case, it is desirable that the sheet 66 protrude outside the
outer edge of the book so that it may be gripped with the covers
closed and pulled to expose the adhesive 36a and to make it
possible for the end leaf 23a to be bonded to the inside of the
cover without the necessity of opening the book. Adhesive film 36a
breaks at line 64 when tab 66 is pulled to the right, and release
paper 37a is stripped from adhesive 36a on end leaf 23a. Preferably
sheet 66 is formed integral with release paper 37a rather than as a
separate element.
Directing attention to the modification shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the
case 46a, instead of being in a single piece, comprises three
separate members which are initially separate and are assembled
only after the thickness of the uncased book 41a with which the
case is to be used has been determined. The front and back covers
51a are each a discrete member consisting of a suitable cover
material 47a which covers the outsides of boards 51a and the edges
of the boards are finished off by top and bottom turn-ins 52a and
side turn-in 53a. However, the edge of the cover 51a which is
adjacent the spine of the book may be unfinished.
Spine binding 71 may be of a material such as vinyl, leather, cloth
or the like and may be the same texture and color as material 47a
but preferably a contrasting color. The length of binding 71 is
greater than the length of the unbound book 41a to be cased. The
width of binding 71 is substantially greater than the spine
thickness of uncased book 41a so that, as best shown in FIGS. 7,
the binding 71 overlaps the spine edges of cover material 47a. The
amount of said overlap is variable depending upon the thickness of
uncased book 41a. In other words, in a preferred embodiment of this
invention, the spine binding 71 is of a standard width which can be
used in connection with a range of thicknesses of uncased books,
the amount of the overlap being dependent upon the thickness of
uncased book 41a. Prior to assembly of the cased and uncased books
(see especially FIG. 11), there is a resilient pad 72 centrally
disposed relative to binding 71. This pad is of polyurethane foam
or similar resilient material. Both pad 72 and the inner surface of
binding 71 are coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 74, 73,
respectively. Prior to use, the pressure-sensitive material 73, 74
is protected by release paper 75 which is peeled away immediately
before use.
As indicated in FIG. 11 by reference numeral 76, the binding 71 and
pad 72 initially extend beyond the top and bottom edges of cover
56a. In the completed book, however, the extensions 76 are folded
over the covers 56a and adhere to the boards 51 and self-adhere to
pad 72 and binding 71. Thus, the edges of the book in the spine
area are finished off (see FIGS. 6 and 7).
In other respects, the binding of FIGS. 6-11 is similar to the
preceding modification and the same reference numerals followed by
the subscript a are used to designate corresponding elements.
The apparatus 80 illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 may be used to assemble
the uncased book 41 to the case 46. End leaves 23 of the type
illustrated and described in FIGS. 1 or 6 may be applied to the
uncased book 41 prior to its being positioned in the apparatus
80.
The case 46 is placed on table 81 which is shown in the
accompanying drawings being horizontal but is actually preferably
downwardly rearwardly inclined as is best shown in FIG. 3. The
angle which the table 81 assumes is governed by the length of the
feet 82 which are positioned below the four corners of the table.
Stops 85 at the rear edge of table 81 locate case 46 in a rearward
sense. On either side of table 81 is a transverse slot 83. Wings 84
are located on either side of the apparatus sliding over the
surface of table 81 and each having a downward extension 86 which
fits through slot 83. The extension 86 slides laterally in a block
87 fixed to the bottom of table 81 and its lower end is fixed to a
rack 88. There is one rack 88R on the right hand side of the
machine at a lower elevation than the corresponding rack 88L of the
left hand side. The inner ends of the racks 88L and 88R slide
through a central block 89 on the underside of the middle of the
table 81 and mounted for rotation in block 89 is a pinion 91
connected to forwardly extending shaft 92 which is mounted in a
bearing support 93 along the bottom of the front edge of the table
81 with a centering knob 94 on the exterior of the apparatus. By
turning knob 94 the pinion 91 is likewise turned and this causes
racks 88L and 88R to move in and out equi-distant amounts in
opposite directions and thereby move the wings 84 inwardly and
outwardly relative to the center of the Table 81 for the purpose of
accurately centering the case 46 received between the inner edges
of the wings 84 relative to the center line of the table.
Pivoted to the rear edge of table 81 is a clamp 95 which receives
the uncased book and is used to press the spine edge of the book
against the spine strip 48 of the case 46 as hereinafter appears.
Bearing blocks 96 are located on the rear edge of table 81 and
receive shaft 98 which extends from the right hand edge of table 81
to a position to the left of the center thereof. Shaft 98 consists
of three sections. At the right hand edge is an unthreaded section
which is connected by coupling 97 to a right hand threaded section
which lies immediately to the left of coupling 97 as viewed in FIG.
2 and extends up to the center of the machine while the shaft 98 to
the left of the center of the machine is left hand threaded.
Thickness adjusting knob 99 is fixed to shaft 98 on the right hand
side of the machine. By turning knob 99, the shafts 98 turn in
bearing supports 96. The left and right clamp members 101L, 101R
are moved by shaft 98, each having a nut 102 in threaded engagement
with shaft 98. Thus, when knob 99 is turned, the nuts 102 move
toward or away from each other, bringing the clamp members 101L,
101R toward and away from each other to adjust for the thickness of
the uncased book 41 which is held therebetween.
Each member 101 has a plate 103 which oscillates around the center
of shaft 98 in a vertical plane. Extending laterally from adjacent
the front edge of each plate 103 is an angularly shaped bracket 104
and a handle 106 is attached to each plate forward of angle bracket
104. By squeezing the handles 106 together the uncased book 41
which is between the clamp members 101 may be more tightly gripped.
At right angles to angle brackets 104 are gussets 107 positioned
adjacent the bottom edges of plates 103. Three transverse rods 108
extend through gussets 107, the ends of rods 108 being fixed to one
of the gussets and sliding within holes in the other gusset. The
rods 108 insure that the members 101 pivot together rather than
independently. Extending rearward of table 81 is a rearward
extension resting on the tops of rods 108 and boss 112. 111 on
which the lower edges of plates 103 rest in the retracted position
of the clamp 95 and extending up from the extension 111 of the rear
of the machine is a leveling boss 112 on which the rear bottom edge
of the encased book 41 rests at the time of initial installation.
The upper edge of boss 112 is level with the tops of rods 108 so
that the uncased book is properly located at the beginning of the
assembly operation resting on the tops of rods 108 and boss
111.
In the use of apparatus 80, at the outset, clamp 95 is pivoted to
up position (solid lines in FIG. 3) and the uncased book 41 is
placed in the clamp 95. For this purpose, knob 99 is turned so that
the clamp members 101L, 101R are moved apart a distance slightly
greater than the thickness of the book 41. The book 41, with end
leaves 23 and release paper 37 incorporated therein as previously
explained, are positioned between plates 103 with the strips 26, 29
forward of the front 112. of plates 103 and with the bottom edge of
the uncased book resting upon rods 108 and leveling boss 112. The
knob 99 is then turned to bring the clamp members 101L, 101R
together and to clamp the uncased book into position therebetween.
By observation of the distance between members 101L, 101R, or by
the use of a gauge (not shown), the width of the spine of the book
is estimated and a case 46 having a proper spine dimension is
selected. Such case 46 is placed on the table 81 and moved rearward
to engage stops 85. Knob 94 is turned so that the wings 84 center
case 46 relative to the center of the machine. Release paper 48a,
which covers the pressure-sensitive spine strip, is removed
exposing the adhesive on the spine strip.
After the case 46 and uncased book 41 have been installed as above
described, the operator grips the handles 106 and pivots the clamp
95 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 from the
solid line position to the dotted line position. This forces the
spine edges of the uncased book 41 against the pressure-sensitive
strips 48 and the two parts then stick together. By releasing the
grip on the handles 106, the clamp 95 can be pivoted back to its
initial position, leaving the uncased book 41 in position on the
case 46. Thereupon, when the end leaves 23 of FIG. 6, for example,
have been previously installed, the front and rear covers 56a may
be closed, the sheet 66 pulled, exposing to the inside of the
covers the pressure-sensitive adhesive 36a which then sticks to the
boards 51 and to the edges of the turn-ins 52, 53 completing
assembly of the book.
Where end leaves 23 such as shown in FIG. 1 have been employed, the
assembly of the end leaves to the inside of the cover is
accomplished by serially attaching the covers. This is done by
pulling off release paper 37 of each end leaf 23 and then closing
the cover and pressing it tightly against adhesive 36.
FIGS. 8-10 illustrate an apparatus 80a used to assemble the book of
FIGS. 6 and 7. Said apparatus 80a is a modification of the
apparatus shown in FIGS. 2-5 and the same reference numerals
followed by subscript a are used to designate corresponding parts.
In this modification, the table 81a is supported on either side by
sides 116 which rest on the supporting surface. Along the front of
table 81a is a front edge 117 which projects above the level of
table 81a and forms a bottom guide for case 46. Similarly along the
rear of table 81a is an upstanding rear edge 118 which forms a top
guide for the case. In order to centrally locate the spine binding
71, a center notch 119 is formed in edges 117, 118 and an outer
notch 121 of lesser depth is formed outwardly of notch 119. As has
heretofore been mentioned, the spine binding 71 is intended to
cover a range of books of varying spine thicknesses. However, in a
preferred form of apparatus, the notch 119 and 121 are provided so
that two different widths of spine binding 71 may be accommodated,
the wider binding material being used for the thicker book and
inserted in notches 121. It will be understood that more or fewer
notches may be used.
Bearings 114 are formed below table 81a at either end, preferably
being formed integrally with the sides 116. Rotatable within
bearings 114 is horizontal shaft 126 parallel to shaft 98a and
similarly formed with left and right hand threads. Shaft 126 is
engaged by nuts 127 which are fixed to wings 84a which reciprocate
horizontally on table 81a. Wings 84a have at their outer
extremities upward expanding outer edges 132 which form guides for
the outer edges of cover 56a. Sprockets 128 are fixed to shafts 98a
and 126 and interconnected by sprocket belt 129. Hence when the
operator turns knob 99a, jaws 101La and 101Ra move inwardly and
outwardly and the wings 84a and the side edges 132 thereof move
inwardly and outwardly a corresponding distance. Thus, the spine
binding 71 is centered relative to table 81a so that the exposed
surface thereof is a predetermined width greater than the thickness
of the spine of the uncased book 41a which is held in the clamps
101La and 101Ra.
As best shown in FIG. 8, the jaws 101La and 101Ra each has a plate
103a which has an in-turn flange 131 which grips the unbound book
41a immediately behind the binding strips 26a and 29a when said
strips are used.
The apparatus 80a is preferably used to case the book shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7 but may be used to case the book shown in FIGS. 1,
1A. The uncased book 41a is preferably of the type shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,596,929 but may be of other types such as stapled, sewn,
glued or otherwise bound books. Initially, the clamp members 101La,
101Ra are in the up position shown in full lines in FIG. 9. The
operator turns the knob 99a in proper direction to move the jaws
far enough apart to receive the uncased book 41a which is
positioned so that its spine edge is forward and its top edge is
resting upon the rods 108a. Knob 99a is turned to bring the jaws
101La, 101Ra together with the inturned flanges 131 immediately
behind the plastic strips 26a, 29a if such construction has been
used. Movement of knob 99a not only moves the jaws but also moves
the wings 84a over the table 81a a corresponding distance. From
observation it can be determined whether a narrow or a wide spine
binding 71 should be used. The proper binding is selected and it is
centered either by notches 119 or 121. Extensions 76 project equal
distances beyond the front and rear edges 117, 118. The release
paper 75 which initially protects the pressure-sensitive material
73, 74 is removed, exposing such material.
The operator thereupon takes the right hand top bottom cover 56a
and positions it so that its outer edge fits against outer edge 132
of wing 84a and its bottom edge is against front edge 117 and its
top edge is against back edge 118. The cover 56a is then allowed to
drop so that its spine margin overlaps binding 71 and adhesive 73
causes cover 56a to adhere to binding 71. The opposite cover 56a is
then positioned in similar fashion. Completion of this step is
shown in FIG. 11. Thereupon the extensions 76 at top and bottom are
folded back to the position shown in FIG. 8, and adhesives 73, 74
cohere, finishing off the spine edge of the case.
Thereupon, the operator grips the handles 106a and pivots the jaws
101La, 101Ra forwardly to the dotted line position of FIG. 9
causing the spine edge of the uncased book 41a to be secured by
means of adhesive 74 to pad 72. Completion of this operation is
shown in FIG. 10. Thereupon, the knob 99a is turned to back off the
jaws a sufficient distance to allow the jaws to be returned to up
position without moving the uncased book. Thereupon, the front and
back covers are closed. By drawing a tool on the operator's thumb
along the outside of the cover immediately outwardly of the plastic
strips 26a, 29a, the hinge creases 58a are formed along with the
beads 58a immediately outwardly of said creases. The operator then
grips one of the extensions 66 of end leaf release paper 37a and
pulls the release paper 37a out of the book, causing the
pressure-sensitive adhesive 36a on the end leaf 23a to adhere to
the inside of cover 56a as indicated by dot-and-dash line in FIG.
6. The operation is repeated for the other cover of the book. It
will be understood that end leaves 23a of construction other than
that illustrated in FIG. 6, such as that shown in FIG. 1, may be
used with the apparatus of FIGS. 8-10 to form the books of FIGS. 6
and 7.
* * * * *