Method and construction for spiral wire binding of pads

A machine for feeding and simultaneously binding pairs of relatively small spiral wire bound pads. Groups of sheets of twice the final desired size are fed serially to a station where they are split and separated. Pairs of the split pads are then fed through a conventional coil binding machine having stations where they are successively aligned and receive a single spiral binder while in side-by-side and slightly spaced relationship. At the next station cutter means are provided for simultaneously trimming and inwardly bending both the outer and the inner ends of the binders of both pads. The two trim-cutting and bending assemblies for the outer ends are of conventional construction having a fixed cutter member and a movable blade operated by a cam with a diagonal slot. The trim-cutting and bending assembly for the inner ends however is of novel construction, comprising two fixed cutter members carried by a single arm and spring-urged movable cutter blades actuated by a V-shaped cam on another arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to the spiral wire binding of stacks of sheets, 
particularly pads or booklets of smaller sizes, such as 6 inch by 9 inch 
steno pads or similar books. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
An example of a coil binding machine used for this purpose is shown in my 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,664 and the patents referred to therein. In these 
machines, groups of sheets are fed to a perforating mechanism such as a 
punching unit and from there to a rotating carriage at which each pad is 
fed to successive stations. At one station the outwardly positioned holes 
are aligned, at another station a spiral wire binder is fed therethrough 
and severed from the supply, and at a third station the outer ends of the 
spiral are trim-cut and bent inwardly. 
When a smaller size pads are used in this rotating unit, it is possible for 
such a machine to bind more booklets per unit of time because the time for 
feeding each coil is less than for longer edges. However, the speed of the 
operator who manually feeds the booklets at the beginning of the line 
remains the same regardless of the size of the book. The rotating unit is 
thus not operating at its potential capacity. 
The conventional trim-cutting and bending apparatus, as shown in the 
above-mentioned prior art, comprises an assembly having a fixed cutter 
member which engages the spiral end and a cutter blade operated by a cam 
having a diagonal slot. Because of the bulky nature of this prior 
trim-cutting and bending assembly, it is possible to use such a 
construction to trim-cut and bend two closely spaced spiral binder ends. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to increase the binding capacity 
of the spiral binding machines of this nature for smaller size pads while 
still maintaining efficiency and reliability. 
It is another object to achieve this increased production capacity while at 
the same time conserving to a maximum degree the wire material used in the 
spiral binding. 
It is a further object to provide an improved binding mechanism of this 
character which permits the trim-cutting and inward bending of two closely 
spaced spiral binder ends in a rapid and efficient manner. 
Briefly, the method of this invention comprises the steps of serially 
feeding groups of sheets perforated along one edge in one direction, 
evenly dividing each group so as to create two groups side by side, 
separating said two groups a relatively small distance, feeding a 
continuous spiral wire through the perforations of both groups while in 
said closely separated side-by-side relation, and simultaneously 
trim-cutting and bending both the outer and inner ends of the spiral wire 
binder passing through both groups while they remain in said closely 
spaced side-by-side relation. 
The structure of this invention comprises, in a coil binding machine of the 
type having a carriage, means on said carriage for supporting a pair of 
perforated sheet groups in closely spaced side-by-side relation, and means 
for moving said carriage to successive stations for aligning, coil 
feeding, and trim-cutting and bending said coils, the improvement 
comprising a trim-cutting and bending assembly for the adjacent ends of 
said side-by-side sheet groups, said assembly comprising a pair of fixed 
cutter members engageable with said adjacent coil ends, a cutter blade 
pivotally mounted on each cutter member and movable between a retracted 
position and a cutting position, spring means urging each cutter blade to 
its retracted position, the blades having cam followers extending 
therefrom, and a V-shaped cam having side surfaces simultaneously 
engageable with said followers to urge said blades toward their cutting 
positions against the action of said spring means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows the overall arrangement, generally indicated at 11, for 
perforating, splitting, separating and binding books 12, comprising groups 
of sheets with backs and tops. These may, for example, be originally 9 
.times. 12 inches in size but are to be used to fabricate booklets which 
are 6 .times. 9 inches. The sheet groups are fed onto the equipment at 
location 13, this operation normally being hand feeding by an operator 
standing alongside the apparatus. In area 14 the sheet groups are 
separated into "lifts", that is, each group is separated into parts for 
perforating at a punching station 15. The parts are reassembled in area 16 
and are fed to a splitting mechanism 17, this feeding movement being at 
right angles to the previous direction of movements so as to obtain two 
smaller sheet groups 18 and 19. Each pair of sheet groups is fed at right 
angles to the previous direction of movement during the splitting action. 
If desired, a transport mechanism indicated schematically at 21 separates 
each pair of sheet groups 18 and 19 for corner rounding by mechanism shown 
diagrammatically at 22. This step will be optional for certain types of 
booklets, such as memo pads. The pairs of sheet groups 18 and 19 are then 
fed at right angles to the movement created by transport mechanism 21. 
Starting in the area indicated at 23, guide means shown schematically at 
24 are provided for guiding both side edges of each booklet in each pair. 
The transport mechanism shown schematically at 25 on this leg of the system 
will move each pair of sheet groups 18 and 19 onto a carriage illustrated 
schematically at 26 with the perforations 27 positioned outwardly. This 
carriage may be of the type shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 
3,924,664 and is adapted to receive each pair of books 18 and 19 in 
closely spaced side-by-side relation for movement to the various stations. 
At the first station after the horizontal receiving station, the 
perforations in the pairs of booklets are aligned. At a succeeding 
station, a mechanism will pass a spiral binder wire coil simultaneously 
through both booklets and will sever that coil from the supply wire. The 
booklets are then advanced by the carriage to a coil trim-cutting and 
bending station and finally to another horizontal station which is the 
exit station. All these are shown in more detail in the previously 
mentioned patents. 
The structure of this invention is concerned with the mechanism for 
trim-cutting and bending the two adjacent ends of the spiral wire binders 
for the two booklets 18 and 19 in each pair. The means for trim-cutting 
and bending the outer ends of the two spiral binders is essentially the 
same as that shown and described in the previous patents and is partially 
shown in the drawings of the present application. This means includes an 
oscillating shaft 28 which is moved in synchronism with carriage 26. A 
pair of arms 29 are fixed to this shaft and carry cams 31 with diagonal 
slots 32. A pair of arms at 33 are rotatably mounted on shaft 28 and carry 
fixed cutter members 34. These cutter members have downwardly facing slots 
at 35 so that teeth formed at the lower ends of the cutter members may 
partially surround a turn 36 of coil 37 which binds booklets 18 and 19. 
The cutter members have blades 38 pivoted at 39 and movable between a 
retracted position and a cutting position. The blades have pins 41 
disposed in slots 32. 
This conventional cutting mechanism operates as follows, as described in 
the aforementioned patents: At the trim-cutting and bending stations, arms 
29 and 33 descend together, but arms 33 engage a stop at the time that 
slots 35 surround coils 36. Arms 29 continue to move, however, and this 
causes the diagonal slots 32 to rock blades 38 to their cutting position. 
While this mechanism is satisfactory for the outside ends, it could not be 
used for trim-cutting and bending the inner adjacent coil ends of the two 
booklets because of its bulk and size. The invention comprises a pair of 
arms 42 rotatably mounted on shaft 28 inwardly of arms 33. Collars 43 may 
be provided for holding arms 42 in position, and the hub of an arm 44 
fixed to shaft 28 is disposed between arms 42 for purposes described 
below. 
Arms 42 carry cutter members 45, each cutter member having a downward 
extension 46. These downward extensions carry slots 47 similar to slots 35 
for engaging the coil 48 at the inner adjacent ends of booklets 18 and 19. 
Like the construction of cutter members 34, slots 47 are formed with a 
pair of teeth, between which is pivoted at 49 a cutter blade 51. 
Cutter blades 51 are not shaped like cutter blades 38 but instead, their 
upper ends 52 comprise tapered extensions. In their retracted positions as 
shown in FIG. 2, surfaces 58 of these extensions angle away from each 
other in an upward direction. However, when the blades are moved to their 
cutting positions, surfaces 53 will be substantially parallel to each 
other. Thus, the two cutter members and their blades may be located very 
close to each other. For example, in the illustration, only two coils 54 
of the spiral binder wire will be wasted after the trim-cutting and 
bending takes place. 
Cutter blades 51 are urged to their retracted position by a pair of helical 
coil tension springs 55. One end of each spring is secured to a pin 56 
carried by extension 52 and the other to a fixed post 57 carried by arm 
42. 
The means for actuating the blades 51 comprises a V-shaped cam 58 having a 
pair of divergent surfaces 59 which are engageable with the noses of blade 
extensions 52. Cam 58 is carried by arm 44, the arm having a bracket 61 at 
its outer end to which cam 58 is secured. The construction of cam 58 is 
such that it occupies considerably less lateral distance for the purpose 
of actuating the two cutter blades than would a structure such as cam 31 
with diagonal slots 32. 
In operation, all four trim-cutting and bending assemblies will approach 
the pair of booklets 18 and 19 simultaneously. The action of the outer 
assemblies may not be described since it is conventional. Referring to the 
inner assemblies, as slots 47 of cutter members 45 engage their respective 
coils, arms 42 will engage stop means. Arm 44 will continue to rock so 
that cam surfaces 59 will engage blade extensions 52 and rock blades 51 
into their cutting positions. Retraction of the cam 58 will permit springs 
55 to return blades 51 to their retracted positions. All four trim-cutting 
and bending assemblies will be simultaneously retracted from the booklets 
which will then be advanced to the next station. 
It will be observed that the lateral distances between the cutter 
assemblies may be varied by adjustment along shaft 28. 
While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention 
disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will 
be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, 
variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair 
meaning of the subjoined claims.