Abstract:
A book binding orientation locator method and apparatus includes a pair of upper and lower platforms in pivotal arrangement. The lower platform has a plurality of vacuum suction cups connected to a vacuum line for adhering to an upper cover of a book. Upon lifting the upper platform relative to the book, and depending upon how the lower platform pivots relative to the upper platform, the book-binding side of the book may be determined.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to systems and apparatuses for handling library materials. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern libraries have experienced increased demands from patrons, in terms of needs for larger and larger holdings of books and other tangible materials. Accordingly, it is not uncommon for public libraries, for example, to handle collection and distribution of hundreds of thousands, or even millions of books and materials every year. Tasks of libraries in handling these ever-increasing volumes are often overwhelming where manual labor is employed for such tasks. 
     In response to such growing volumes of materials, automated methods and systems for materials handling have been developed for library environments as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,156, entitled, “Library Cart Loading System and Method”, issued to Mark R. Frich, an inventor of the present invention. In such systems, library materials are received from a “book” depository, transported to a check-in system for subsequent cataloging and inventory update, and ultimately placed on carts for subsequent re-shelving for subsequent patron requests or browsing. 
     In the aforementioned automated systems, it is important to know the book binding orientation of a book prior to subsequent operations such as loading books onto a cart. Procedures for determining book-binding orientation may include squaring operations in addition to various electronic sensing, for example the location of a barcode or the like. Such procedures for determining book binding orientation are generally expensive, and add to the overall complexity and cost of the library materials handling system. Thus there is a need for a simple bookbinding orientation locator method and apparatus which may be applicable to not only library material handling systems, but also book publishers or other applications requiring knowledge of the book binding orientation of a book. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for determining book binding orientation. 
     In accordance with the present invention, book binding orientation of a book is determined by a pair of platforms in pivotal arrangement. One of the platforms has a plurality of vacuum suction cups connected to a vacuum line for lifting the cover. Depending upon how this platform pivots, the book-binding side of the book may be determined. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a book binding orientation locator in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a book transport conveyor and a book rotator in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a control system for the book rotator of FIG. 2 in cooperation with the book binding orientation locator in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial top plan view of book binding orientation locator of FIG. 1 particularly illustrating the sensor platform in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of book binding orientation locator of FIG. 1 particularly illustrating the reference platform in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial side plan view of book binding orientation locator of FIG. 1 particularly depicting an operative condition. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Illustrated in FIG. 1 is plan view of the book binding orientation locator in accordance with the preset invention. The book binding orientation locator is particularly applicable for automated library material handling systems employing a conveyor system for transporting materials from an input side, such as a library receiving or return station, to a book placing station as particularly described in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,156. In the aforesaid patent application, the placer system is intended to place books on a library cart such that the books are in an upright condition with their binding facing outward (or at least in the same direction). 
     An exemplary motorized conveyor transport system  200  (driving members and motors not shown) for a library material handling systems is generally depicted in the plan view illustrated in FIG. 2. A pair of rails  202  and  204  hold a plurality of conveyor rollers  210  which are coupled to a drive means (not shown) for transporting library materials, for example book  207  along the conveyor to various operating stations for performing particular tasks such as squaring, de-shingling reading bar codes, de-magnetizing operations, and finally to selected placer stations for stacking books onto library carts. 
     Further illustrated in FIG. 2 is a cross-shaped rotator platform  220  surrounded by further smaller conveyors  215  which are also coupled to drive means not shown for moving book  207  any where along the conveyor transport system  200  from point A to point B, as desired. In the operation of the book binding orientation locator in accordance with the present invention, as will be subsequently described, the conveyor transport system  200  is intended to transport book  207  so as to be in juxtaposition with rotator platform  220 , and in rough square alignment relative with rail members  202  and  204 , and centrally therebetween. It should be noted that rotator platform  220  is held in vertical alignment relative to side rails  204  and  202  by way appendages not shown. Further, it should be assumed that rotator platform  20  lies at least just below the upper extremities of rollers  210  and  215 , as particularly illustrated in FIG. 1, so as to permit book to be transported without obstruction from A to B as desired and under control of the transport system. 
     As is further illustrated in FIGS. 1 &amp; 2, book  207  includes side  221   a  opposite side  221   c,  and side  221   b  opposite side  221   d.  As is depicted in FIG. 2, book sides  221   a  and  221   c  are in general transverse alignment with respect to the direction of the intended movement of book  207  from A to B along the conveyor transport system  200 ; whereas book sides  221   b  and  221   d  are generally in parallel alignment with the intended movement book of  207  along conveyor transport system  200 . Lastly, as further illustrated in FIG. 2, book  207  is intended to be transported to the book binding locator of the present invention such that book  207  is generally centrally positioned between the conveyor rails  202  and  204 , and over rotator  220 . 
     The alignment and position of book  207  as just described and depicted in FIG. 2 may be accomplished by a book centering and squaring station (not shown) for providing the desired book position and book orientation before the book is transported to a position just above rotator platform  220  as illustrated. Upon the proper positioning of book  207  over rotator platform  220 , the conveyor transport is intended to cease transport of book  207  until the location of the book binding  228  is located as will subsequently be described. 
     Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a side view of the conveyor transport system  200  and rotator platform  220  and associated controls. In the preferred embodiment of the book binding orientation locator in accordance with the present invention, rotator platform  220  includes a plurality of bellows type vacuum cups  222  in communication with air passages or chambers  228  forming a manifold. Chambers  228  are coupled to a vacuum pump  310  through a vacuum switch  312  having an air line  313  on one side of vacuum switch  312  connected to air passages  228 , and the other side thereof connected to vacuum pump  310  through air line  314 . With book  207  properly positioned, cover  217  of book  207  rests on, or in close proximity to, the ends of cups  222 . In accordance with the present invention, with vacuum switch in an open switch, vacuum pump  310  is operative to cause a sucking action upon cover  217  so as to securely adhere cover  217  to rotator platform  220 . 
     Again referring to FIG. 1, thereshown is book  207  with cover  217  resting on vacuum cups  222  associated with rotator platform  220 . As illustrated, binding  228  of book  207  faces to the right. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1,  4 , and  5 , the book binding orientation locator  100  includes a generally square shaped sensing platform  10  pivotally coupled to a generally square-shaped reference platform  20  by way of a vacuum swivel joint  30  and four symmetrically placed light (low spring force) helical dampening springs  32   a-d.  Springs  32   a-d  are generally positioned so as to resiliently couple the sensing platform  10  to the reference platform  20  in generally symmetrical alignment—namely, one corner of the sensing platform is coupled to a corresponding corner portion of the reference platform. As illustrated in the drawings, reference platform  20  is somewhat smaller than sensing platform  10 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, sensing platform  10  includes a plurality of bellows type vacuum cups  12  in communication with air passages or chambers  14  forming a manifold therein. Sensing platform  20  includes a plurality of air passages  21  terminating at a vacuum line port or stub  23  for receiving an air line  25  coupled to one side of vacuum switch  17 . The other side of vacuum switch  17  is coupled to vacuum pump  16  through airline  26 . 
     Sensing platform  20  is pivotally coupled to reference platform  10  through vacuum swivel joint  30  as aforesaid. The upper end  31  of joint  30  is intended to be rigidly coupled to reference platform  20  by way of screw-thread end member  34  and threaded aperture, generally indicated by numeral  35 , in a well-known manner. Similarly, lower end  33  of joint  30  is intended to be rigidly coupled to sensing platform  10 . As is well-understood, joint  30  includes an air passage therethrough extending from end  31  to end  33  as depicted by numerals  36   a  and  36   b.  In the preferred embodiment of the invention, air passages  21  are intended to be communication with air passages  14  through joint  30  by way of air passages  36   a  and  36   b.    
     With the arrangement as just described, chambers  14  are coupled to vacuum pump  16  through vacuum swivel joint  30 , air passages  21  of sensing platform  20 , and vacuum switch  17  so as to be operative to cause a vacuum action upon the upper book cover  227  of book  207  through vacuum cups  12  as will be subsequently described. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  4 , and  5 , affixed to reference platform  10  are four extension members  19   a-d  extending perpendicular to surface  11  of platform  10 . Further, affixed to sensing platform  20  are a plurality of “electric eye” proximity type sensing devices  40   a-d.  Each sensing device  40  is intended to embody both an emitter and a detector. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, sensing device  40  is intended to emit red light, and detect reflections thereof. 
     The arrangement of sensing devices  40   a-d  and extension members  19   a-d  is particularly illustrated with reference to FIG.  4 . Considering the “pick-up” position of book binding orientation locator in accordance with the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the extension members  19   a-d  is intended to be in alignment with a corresponding one of the sensing devices  40   a-d.  Further, the length of each of the extension members is intended to be such that each of the sensing devices  40   a-d  will “not” sense any reflection of its own emitted light reflected from the corresponding one the extension members  19   a-d,  respectively. However, the arrangement is intended to be such that rotation of sensing platform  1   0  about joint  30  relative to reference platform  20  may be sensed by predetermined ones of sensing devices  40   a-d  as will be further described. 
     Again referring to FIG. 1, book binding orientation locator  100  in accordance with the present invention further includes an air actuated linear actuator  70  including an air cylinder  72  and a push rod  73 . Cylinder end  75 , opposite push rod end  76 , is resiliently coupled to frame member  90  through a ball-like-joint  80 . Push rod  73  has one end rigidly confined within cylinder  72 , and the other end  74  thereof rigidly coupled to reference platform  20  and arranged so as to be perpendicular to surface  29  thereof. Push rod  73  may be rigidly attached to platform  20  by way of a screw-tread type coupling or the like (not shown). 
     Frame member  90  is intended to be held in fixed relationship relative to rotator platform  220  by way of exemplary frame members  91  and  92  having one end of each frame member  91  and  92  rigidly affixed to side rails  204  and  202 , respectively. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, joint  80  may be provided by way of a simple hose for coupling end  75  of actuator  70  to member  90 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, actuator  70  is intended to be a double acting cylinder with a square push rod. Cylinder  72  is intended to be coupled to an air control by way of an air line  78 . 
     The operation and the method of the book binding orientation locator in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 &amp; 6 depicting the cooperation of the various components configured in a manner as aforesaid with like components having retained to same numeral designations as the previous described Figures. Book binding orientation locator  100  awaits the transport of a book  207  in juxtaposition over cross-shaped rotator platform  220 . It should be again noted that transport conveyor is intended to include a sensing device so as to stop further transport of book  207  along transport conveyor  200  upon proper placement of book  207  over cross-shaped platform  220 . Further, it should be further assumed in the following exposition that book  207  is generally aligned relative to rails  202  and  204 , and centrally located therebetween by means not shown. 
     In the non-operative condition, push rod  73  of actuator  72  may be fully retracted (toward frame member  90 ). Upon sensing that a book  207  has been transported to a position in general juxtaposition over rotator platform  220 , vacuum switch  312  is initiated to draw a vacuum by way of vacuum pump  79  through air lines  313  and  314 , as well as air passages  228  and vacuum cups  222  so as to securely hold cover  217  of book  207  in a fixed position relative to rotator platform  220 . 
     Subsequent to the operation of vacuum switch  312 , and fixing the position of cover  217  relative to rotator platform  220 , switch  17  is initiated to draw a vacuum through airline  25  by way of vacuum pump  79 . Concurrently, actuator  72  is acted upon by way of air control  79  and air line  78  so as to permit push rod  73  to travel away from cylinder  72  and fall downward by way of gravity until sensing platform  10  is adhered to book cover  217  by way of vacuum action through vacuum cups  12 . It should be noted, that binding side  228  of book  207  is held in fixed relationship to cover  217 , and specifically to rotator platform  220  through the structural arrangement of the book covers and binding. 
     In turn, air control  79  is operated so as to retract push rod  73  away from book  207  toward frame member  90 . In turn, reference platform  20  begins to pull away from book  207 , and more specifically cover  217 . Concurrently, sensing platform  10  also pulls away from cover  217 . However, the vacuum action through vacuum cups  222 , as well as gravity, is such that cover  217  adheres to rotator platform  220 . The combination of these two actions, namely cover  217  and binding  228  adhering to rotator platform  220  in fixed arrangement, and reference platform  20  pulling upward away from the rest position of cover  227  causes a lifting of cover  227  relative to binding  228  and cover  217 , as depicted in FIG.  6 . Because of binding  228 , equal forces are exerted against sensing platform  10  such that sensing platform  10  begins to pivot relative to reference platform  20  by way of joint  30 . 
     For the scenario of book  207  relative to rotator platform  220  as depicted in the drawings, detector device  40   a  will sense the proximity of extension member  19   a,  while sensing devices  40   b,    40   c,  and  40   d  will continue not to sense the proximity of extension members  19   b,    19   c,  and  19   d,  respectively. Accordingly, “tripping” of sensing device  40   a  is indicative of the binding being located on the side of reference platform  20  associated with the extension member opposite the extension member that was sensed, namely  19   a.  It should be clearly understood, tripping of one of the sensing devices  40   a-d  is sufficient to determine which side of book  207  that the binding is located. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, it is desired that books have a predetermined book binding orientation subsequent to determining the binding location by way of book binding locator  100  in accordance with the present invention, and further transport book  207  along transport conveyor  200  toward position A as seen in FIG.  2 . 
     As depicted in FIG. 3, thereshown is an exemplary electromechanical control system  800  including a signal controller  801  and electromechanical operating system for rotating book  207  in response to a “shelf control input” or “orientation control signal”  810 , and the orientation sensing signal indicative of the present location of the binding  228  currently being located as represented by way of the outputs of sensing devices  40   a-d  indicated as inputs A, B, C, and D, respectively. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, cross-shaped platform  220  includes a rod member perpendicular thereto. A lifting means is coupled to rod  803  for raising platform  220  relative to conveyor roller  210  and  215  in response to a raise command signal on signal line  812 . Additionally, a rotating means  804  is coupled to rod  803  for rotating platform  220 , and more particularly the position of biding  228  relative to the transport conveyor  200  in response to a rotate command signal on signal line  813 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, signal controller  801  is configured to provide the aforesaid raise and rotate command signals  812  and  813 , respectively, in response to the shelf control input signal  810  so as to orient book  207  before being transported away from the book binding locator  100  toward position B. 
     Signal controller  801  further represents the integration of vacuum switch control signals designated by signal line  815  for proper sequence of vacuum pumps  16  and  310 , vacuum switches  17  and  312 , as well air control  79  in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. 
     It should be noted that the arrangement parts and selection of components may be other than that as depicted in the drawings. More specifically the type of sensing devices and method and arrangement of air passages may be altered, as well as type and arrangement of pivotal points. The arrangement of components are intended to be such so as to detect the orientation of the sensing platform relative to the reference platform, and more specifically the rotator platform, upon lifting the reference platform while the sensing platform is adhering to a cover of a book, all of which are intended to be within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It should also be noted that there exists a wide array of sensing schemes for determining the orientation of the sensing platform relative to reference platform, and more specifically the rotator platform, all of which are intended to be within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.