Patent ID: 6527016
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: B42B

Abstract:
An automated machine for spirally binding coils of various curvatures into a stack of sheets having prepunched holes along a side edge thereof, said machine comprising, in combination:a support surface adapted to support the stack of sheets and having an edge adapted to be positioned substantially adjacent the prepunched holes; a rotatable drive roller for engaging said coil and spirally feeding said coil lengthwise through said prepunched holes; a drive system for rotating said drive roller; at least one coil guiding assembly comprising an engagement surface and an elongated coil guiding surface mounted substantially parallel to the edge of the support surface, said elongated coil guiding surface being mounted for movement between a first position wherein said elongated coil guiding surface is disposed to not engage said coil as it spirally feeds lengthwise through said prepunched holes and a second position wherein said elongated coil guiding surface is disposed to engage said coil as it spirally feeds lengthwise through said prepunched holes; a plurality of spacing assemblies for said various curvatures of coils, each said spacing assembly having at least one spacing surface, and at least one mounting structure for mounting at least one of said spacing assemblies such that in moving the elongated coil guiding surface between the first and second positions, an abutment of the engagement surface with the spacing surface determines said second position of the elongated coil guiding surface for a given curvature of coil.