Abstract:
A finishing line for forming a square back saddle stitch book. A conveyor is arranged to receive the book and to convey the book along a finishing path to a squaring station. A book clamp is disposed on opposite sides of the path and is arranged to clamp the book at a point generally adjacent to the spine. A squaring member includes a first portion transitioning toward a second portion, the second portion disposed generally in the path and is positioned to contact and flatten the spine of a book proceeding along the path.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to saddle stitch finishing lines and, more specifically, to a saddle stitch finishing line having a device for forming a square back book from the saddle stitch book.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In printing and binding operations, books, pamphlets, large circulation periodicals, and other products may be formed from a collection of forms or signatures that have been bound together into what is commonly referred to as a book. The books may be bound in a number of known manners, such as, for example, perfect binding or saddle stitch binding.  
           [0003]    Perfect binding is a method in which an adhesive is used to bind the pages or signatures of the publication to a backbone. In perfect binding operations, which is most commonly found on books and periodicals, the backbone of the finished product is rectangular. In many applications, and for a variety of reasons, some end users prefer perfect bound books over books bound using other methods.  
           [0004]    Another binding method is saddle stitch binding. In saddle stitch binding, the signatures are folded along a spine. Each successive signature is inserted into the previous signature(s) with the spine nested into the spine of the previous signature(s). The signatures are then stitched to each other through spine along the fold. Saddle stitch binding also offers distinct advantages is in some applications, and thus is preferred for a number of known uses. However, although many end users prefer the square back book produced by perfect binding operations, the spine of a saddle stitched book typically is pointed or rounded. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic view in perspective of a saddle stitch finishing line assembled according to the teachings of the present invention to include a squaring station;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a an end view of a plurality of saddle stitched books assembled on a conventional saddle stitch binding line according to the prior art;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is an end view of a plurality saddle stitch books assembled according to the teachings of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a saddle stitched book oriented with its spine pointed downward;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is an elevational view taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the book proceeding along the conveyor and approaching the squaring station;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 is an end view showing the book entering the squaring station and about to be clamped by a clamping mechanism;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 8 is an end view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the clamping mechanism grasping the book from opposite sides at a location closely adjacent to the spine of the book;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevation schematic view of the clamped book approaching a squaring member in the form of a roller;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end view illustrating the spine of the book in contact with the squaring member;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation schematic view of the clamped book approaching a squaring member in the form of an angled shoe or ramp; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 12 is a schematic view in perspective of a stand alone finishing line including a squaring station. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    The exemplary embodiment described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the precise form or forms disclosed. The following example has been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical use in order to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings.  
         [0018]    Referring now to the drawings, a saddle stitch finishing line generally referred to by the reference numeral  20  is shown and includes a squaring station  22  assembled in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The finishing line  20  is shown in conjunction with and integrated into a saddle stitch binding line  21  having a gathering chain or gathering conveyor  24  of the type commonly employed in the art and which is movable past a plurality of packer boxes  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 , etc. The gathering conveyor  24  includes a plurality of chain spaces (not shown) of the type commonly employed in the art, each of which is adapted to gather a signature from at least one of the packer boxes  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 , in seriatim fashion. Although only four packer boxes  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  are shown, it will be understood that the typical saddle stitch binding line  21  may include additional or fewer packer boxes depending on the size of the binding line  21  and depending on other practical considerations. As would be known, a suitable controller  23  and a user interface  25  may be provided as are commonly employed in printing operations in order to control the operation of the binding line  21  and or the delivery of the appropriate signatures from the packer boxes  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32 .  
         [0019]    As also would be known, each of the packer boxes  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  contains a number of signatures, e.g., signatures  26   a ,  28   a ,  30   a , and  32   a , respectively. Upon direction of the controller  23 , one or more of the packer boxes  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  is enabled, thereby delivering their respective signatures  26   a ,  28   a ,  30   a ,  32   a  contained in the individual packer box to the gathering conveyor  24  for assembly into a book  34 . A more detailed explanation of the saddle stitch binding line  21 , including a description of its operation and component parts, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,323. However, it will be appreciated to those of skill in the art, that the actual details of the binding line may vary without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed herein. In FIG. 1, a pair of the books  34  are shown on the gathering conveyor  34  entering the finishing line  20  and prior to entering the squaring station  22 . In the example of FIG. 1, the finishing line  20 , including the squaring station  22 , are integrated into the binding line  21 .  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a number of conventional prior art saddle stitch books  34  are shown. Each of the books  34  includes a generally pointed or rounded spine  36  of the type that is typically produced on a conventional saddle stitch binding line. It will be appreciated that when the plurality of books  34  are stacked as shown in FIG. 2, the generally rounded or pointed spine  36  generally causes the of books  34  to be significantly higher at the spine  36  compared to the height of the other end of the stacked books adjacent the edges of the pages.  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a plurality of books  38  are shown therein which have been assembled on a saddle stitch binding line  20  incorporating the squaring station  22  of the present invention. Each of the books  38  includes a spine  40 . In FIGS. 4, 5,  7  and  8 , the spine  40  is shown prior to the book  38  being processed in the squaring station  22 . However, in FIG. 3, the spine  40  has been squared or flattened in the manner to be discussed in greater detail below so as to include having a squared or generally flat face  42 . Also, although in FIGS. 4, 5,  7  and  8  the book  38  is shown in a spine-down orientation, the teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to other orientations for the book  38 .  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIG. 4, the book  38  shown therein is formed of a plurality of signatures  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c ,  44   d , each of which includes a fold  45 , with the folds  45  being generally nested and aligned with each other so as to generally form the spine  40 . It will be appreciated that each of these signatures  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c ,  44   d  are typically formed into the book  38  on the binding line  20  by being delivered to the gathering conveyor  24  by the individual packer boxes  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32 , respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the book  38  includes a head  46 , a foot  48 , a front face  50  and a rear face  52 . The book  38  also includes the spine  40 , which in the configuration of FIGS. 4, 5,  7  and  8  remains in the substantially pointed configuration.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 5, the book  38  is again shown prior to reaching the squaring station  22 , with the spine  36  again shown in a conventionally and generally pointed configuration. For ease of reference, the details of the gathering conveyor  24  and other components of the binding line  20  have been omitted, although those components, except for the squaring station, would be known to those of skill in the art.  
         [0024]    Referring now to FIG. 6, a plurality of books  38  are shown proceeding along the finishing station  20  portion of the binding line  20 , and carried by the conveyor  24  in a direction indicated by the letter A. The books  38  are shown with the spine  40  disposed generally downward when viewing the figure as the books  38  approach the squaring station  22 . The squaring station  22 , which in the example of FIGS. 1 and 6 is preferably integrated into the binding line  20 , includes a clamp mechanism  54 . The clamp mechanism  54  is disposed to grasp the books  38  at a location generally adjacent to the spine  40  as will be explained in greater detail below. The clamp mechanism  54  is connected to an advancing mechanism  55 , such that the clamp mechanism  54  also proceeds generally along the path A. Thus, in accordance with the disclosed example, the clamp mechanism  54  may be made to move along the path A at a speed approximating the speed at which the books  38  are advancing along the binding line  20 .  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 7, the clamp mechanism  54 , in accordance with the disclosed example, includes a clamp  56  and a clamp  58 , each of which includes a face  56   a ,  58   a , respectively. The clamps  56  and  58  are disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor  24  (FIG. 1 or  12 ) so as to be disposed on opposite sides of the book  38 . It will be noted that the clamps  56 ,  58  are disposed above the lower extent of the spine  40  a distance generally indicated by the reference numeral B. Preferably, this distance B may be adjusted, such as by using a suitable adjustment mechanism  59  engaging each of the clamps  56 ,  58 . In the disclosed example the distance B is chosen to be approximately 3 mm measured from the spine  40 , although this distance may vary depending on the bulk of the book and paper type.  
         [0026]    The clamps  56  and  58  will be shiftable between a position in which the clamps  56  and  58  are retracted away from the conveyor  24  (FIG. 1 or  12 ) and hence removed away from the front and back faces  50 ,  52  of the book  38 . The clamps  56  and  58  will preferably generally straddle the path of the book. Using conventional actuating systems, or any other suitable system, the clamps  56  and  58  will shift between the retracted position shown in FIG. 7, and advanced position (FIG. 8) in which the faces  56   a ,  58   a  of the clamps  56 ,  58 , respectively, make contact with the book  38  adjacent to the spine  40  as shown in FIG. 8. In the disclosed example, the faces  56   a ,  58   a  of the clamps  56 ,  58  may have a width W that roughly approximates the length of the spine  40  (see FIGS. 6, 9, and  11 , with FIGS. 9 and 11 illustrating the width W of the clamps extended in dotted lines to roughly match the length of the spine  40 ).  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 8, the book  38  is shown therein with the opposing faces  50 ,  52  of the book shown firmly clamped or grasped by the clamping mechanism  54  with the faces  56   a ,  58   a  in contact with the front and back faces  50 ,  52 , respectively, of the book  38 . It will be noted that in this configuration, prior to the clamp mechanism  54  proceeding through the balance of the squaring station  22 , that the spine  40  remains in the generally pointed or rounded configuration. In the disclosed example, the faces  56   a ,  58   a of the clamps  56 ,  58  may have a height H of approximately 25 mm, however the height H may vary.  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIG. 9, in accordance with the first disclosed example of the present invention, the squaring station  22  employs a squaring roller  60  having an outer face  62 . The book  38 , which is shown proceeding along the gathering conveyor  24  grasped by the advancing clamp mechanism  54 , is shown with a leading edge  64  of the spine  40  beginning to make contact with the squaring roller  60 .  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 10, the book  40  is shown proceeding over the squaring roller  60 , with the spine  40  being smashed or generally deformed to form the squared generally flat face  42 . The squaring roller  60  is mounted on a suitable bearing or pivot  64  such that the outer face  62  of the squaring roller  60  continuously smashes or otherwise deforms the spine  40  of the book  38  to form the flat face  42  as the squaring roller  60  rotates about the pivot  64 . The squaring roller  60  may be a driven roller driven by any suitable drive means (not shown). Alternatively, the squaring roller  60  may be free to rotate due to the frictional forces of the spine  40  making contact with the outer face  62 . Still further, the squaring roller may be completely stationary. The squared book  38  having the spine  40  with the desired flat face  42  is then carried out of the squaring station using the conveyor  24 , and the clamp mechanism  54  is released at an appopriate point which may vary but which easily may be determined by the user. The book  38  preferably exits the squaring station  22  while traveling in line with the path A, but the book may also exit transversely relative to the path A if so desired.  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 11, in accordance with a second disclosed example of the squaring station  22 , the squaring roller is replace with a shoe  66  having an angled squaring face  68 . In the disclosed example, the shoe  66  is held in a stationary position, while the clamp mechanism  54  advances along the gathering conveyor  24  in the manner discussed above with respect to the first disclosed example.  
         [0031]    In both of the examples discussed in detail herein, it will be appreciated that suitable adjustment may be provided for by raising and lowering the clamps  56 ,  58  relative to the roller  60  or shoe  66  using the adjustment mechanism  59 . Alternatively, an adjustment mechanism  69  may be provided for raising or lowering the roller  60  or the shoe  66  of the squaring station  22  with respect to the gathering conveyor  24  and/or the clamp mechanism  54 . Such adjustment mechanism may, as an example, permit the distance B discussed above to be adjusted depending on certain design or operational parameters, such as, for example, the thickness of the book  38 , the type of paper stock being used, and other design considerations.  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIG. 12, the finishing line  20  is shown in a stand alone configuration. The book  38  is shown proceeding along the finishing line  20  carried by the conveyor  24  into the squaring station  22  in a direction indicated by the letter A. In the example of FIG. 12, the conveyor  24  is unconnected to the conveyor of the saddle stitch binding line. The book  38  is again shown with the spine  40  disposed generally downward. The squaring station  22  includes a clamp mechanism (not shown, but which is generally similar in all respects to the clamp mechanism  54  discussed above with respect to the earlier examples, and includes an advancing mechanism such that the clamp mechanism  54  also proceeds generally along the path A. The remaining components of the stand alone finishing line  20  and the squaring station  22  may be the same or similar to those components discussed above with respect to the above-described examples.  
         [0033]    As an alternative configuration, the squaring station  22  may employ a series of spaced tightly driven rollers which clamp the book along the length of the spine and carry the book over a shoe, ramp, or roller of the type discussed above.  
         [0034]    Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the forgoing descriptions. Accordingly, these descriptions are to be construed as illustrative only and are or the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode or modes presently contemplated for caring out the invention. The details of the structure or structures disclosed herein may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, is reserved.