Patent ID: 6312204
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: B42B

Abstract:
A binding machine for spirally binding a sheaf of papers into a book comprising:a. means for clamping together the sheaf of papers making up said book, said book having a plurality of holes in a row adjacent one edge of said book to receive the leading edge of said spiral binding element;b. a stationary base spaced from one end of said book;c. a block slidably mounted on said base having an arm extending outwardly and supporting at its distal and thereof a cylindrically shaped mandrel spaced from said slidable block and the bottom edge of said mandrel horizontally in a line with said row of holes in said book, said arm being attached at its distal end to said mandrel at the proximate end of said mandrel facing said row of holes and spaced from said book and said arm attached to said block at the proximate end with means for adjusting the distance between said mandrel and said block;d. conveyor means for feeding onto said mandrel from the distal end thereof a plastic pre-formed, spiral binding element terminating at the proximate end of said mandrel with the leading edge of said binding element facing and spaced from said book, the internal diameter of said spiral binding element being slightly in excess of the outer diameter of said mandrel;e. spring means mounted on said slidable block for engaging and biasing adjustably said spiral binding element on said mandrel upwardly against said mandrel so that the upper portion of said binding element is spaced from the top of said mandrel;f. means comprising a wheel having an outer frictional surface for engaging a top outer surface of said spiral binding element and motor means for driving said wheel to feed said spiral binding element into said row of holes in said book for binding same;g. means for adjusting the position of said block on said base for positioning said mandrel to obtain proper alignment of the leading edge of said spiral binding element with said row of holes;h. a means for significantly spreading apart each coil of said spiral binding element for initial insertion into respective first and last holes of a row of holes, said means comprising a pair of spreader members including a leading hole spreader member and a trailing hole spreader member, said leading hole spreader member insertable within said respective coils of said spiral binding at a point before said spiral enters a leading hole of a sheaf to be bound, said leading hole spreader member being disposed adjacent to said leading hole and wherein said trailing hole spreader member is located adjacent to said final hole, wherein a predetermined space between each said coil is widened by contact of a binding edge of each said spreader member around each said coil;said binding machine having a comb clamp having a pair of opposing elongated jaws with alternating projections and recesses therebetween,one of said jaws being a fixed jaw horizontally disposed along and attached to the longitudinal frame of said binding machine and the other of said jaws being a movable jaw hinged to said longitudinal frame of said binding machine so as to be movable between a closed position in close proximity to said fixed jaw for clamping said sheaf in place with holes in alignment with said recesses of said elongated jaws in preparation for accepting said spiral coil; and whereinsaid leading hole spreader members are oppositely disposed respectively on said opposing fixed and movable jaws of said comb clamp;said spreader disposed on said fixed jaw comprising a flat base having a slot therein and a slim extension projecting therefrom, said slim extension having a contact end for contacting and spreading said coil, said contact end being rounded and tapered; and whereinsaid spreader disposed on said movable jaw comprising a flat base having a slot and an aperture therein and an extension projecting therefrom, said extension having a guidance groove therein for accepting and guiding said spiral coil as said coil travels longitudinally during the process of entering and binding successive holes of said sheaf to be bound;said extensions and for contacting and spreading said spiral coil at a point before the leading edge of said coil enters the leading hole of said sheaf to be bound;said extensions and being disposed adjacent to each other when said comb clamp is in its closed position; and whereinsaid trailing hole spreader comprises a base having an oblique contour blade member extending therefrom, said oblique contour blade member engagable with said coil as said coil exits from the trailing hole of said sheaf to be bound.