Abstract:
A punch unit, in particular for making a punch for the binding comb of a ring binding is set-up of a circular shaped blade  1  and a counter die  19.  The circular blade  1  is rotatably beard concerning an axis of rotation  27.  At the circumference of the blade  1  cutting elements  2  are arranged. This cutting elements  2  raise over a fictive rolling circle  21.  The surface of the counter die  19  is arranged perpendicular at the distance of the rolling circle radius r W  to the axis of rotation  27  of the circular blade  1  and show one or several opening in which in each case intervenes at least one cutting element  2  of the circular blade  1.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    A prior application copending this US-application is the German application 100 01 238.8 filed on Jan. 14, 2000.  
           [0002]    This application concerns the invention.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0003]    “Not Applicable” 
         REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0004]    “Not Applicable” 
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The invention concerns a punch unit, in particular for making a punch for the binding comb of a ring binding.  
           [0006]    Punch units for punching a hole for a binding comb are confessed by modifications from the state of the art at a great number.  
           [0007]    An essential problem of these known procedures is that punching holes into a pile of paper consisting of a greater number of single pages is only very heavily possible.  
           [0008]    From that state of the art, different measures are now confessed in order to ease the described problems.  
           [0009]    So is for example from that U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,023 a combined punch-binding machine for flexible ring plastic binding elements known.  
           [0010]    At the described punch unit, the paper which has to be provided with the holes is arranged on a horizontal supporting surface against a detent in longitude direction and a detent in cross direction below a linear punching tool with teeth shaped stamping elements. The linear punching tool with the teeth shaped stamping elements is then sloped by a lever. With it the stamping elements pierce the paper. The individual stamping elements which are designed for example as a punching knife support themselves in each case against the corresponding stop. Therefore, the process of the punch is a pure stamping process.  
           [0011]    Individual stops of the punch unit can be switched on and off. As a result, the corresponding the punching knives insert no more stamping force onto the paper and a punch of the paper in the corresponding places does not occur. As a result, the necessary strength is reduced for the production of the holes. However, a complete punch of an extensive document must be carried out in several operation steps.  
           [0012]    Moreover, the loose stops for the individual punching knives are not carried out with respect to the supporting surface level with the pile of paper in a tier but its distances of the supporting surface increase from one side of the linear punching tool to the other side. With it is achieved that the punching knives do pierce the paper not simultaneously but pierce it in sequence. The strength to be spent is reduced too in this manner.  
         BRIEF SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    Starting from this state of the art, the invention is based on the task to further simplify the punch process and to form the punch process more efficiently for the user.  
           [0014]    This task is solved invention appropriately by a punch unit, in particular for making holes for a binding comb of a ring binding, with the following features:  
           [0015]    The punch unit shows a preferably circular blade which is pivot concerning an axis, with one or several cutting elements arranged at the circumference of the circular blade which rise over a fictive rolling circle radius with rolling circle radius r W . Furthermore, the punch unit shows a counter die, which show a surface perpendicular to the circular blade again at the distance of the rolling circle radius r W . Further, this counter die has one or several opening, into those one or several of the cutting elements which are arranged on the circumference of the circular blade intervene simultaneously in each case.  
           [0016]    A paper which has to be perforated is perpendicular to the blade at the distance of the rolling circle radius r W  of the axis of rotation of the blade on that listed above surface of the counter die arranged. The paper must move relatively to the axis of rotation of the circular blade circumferential speed of the fictive rolling circle while turning the circular blade. By the rotary motion of the circular blade and the simultaneous linear relative movement of the paper in sense of rotation the cutting elements in sequence pass through into the paper and make the desired holes for the binding comb of a ring binding.  
           [0017]    On account of the rigid distance between the axis of rotation of the circular blade and the counter die and/or the paper, the punch process does not occur as while the known version in an essentially linear movement of the punching tool but by a rotative movement of the blade the cutting elements cut at first on one side into the paper and the cutout of the counter die.  
           [0018]    The torque required by the rotary motion can for example be raised with the aid of a cranked control handle or by a motor drive, where appropriate interlinked with a corresponding gear pair.  
           [0019]    In this case, the cutting elements are as designed, that they raise with their cutting edge over the rolling circle radius r W  of the rolling circle.  
           [0020]    That opening of the counter die show cutting edges that are assigned in each case to the cutting edges of the cutting elements. The cutting edges of the cutting elements and the cutting edges of the opening are arranged to each other as that they are similar to the mode of operation of a scissors through to the gliding along the sharp edges the paper is cut up by a pulling cut.  
           [0021]    The process of the punch indeed still resembles a stamping process, however, the amount of force (and/or the required torque) is reduced clearly compared to a pure stamping process.  
           [0022]    The punch unit is carried out in the way, that the used cutout angles between the normal of the surface of the counter die and the walls of the opening is chosen so large that a rubbing of front edges of the cutting elements at the surface of the counter die is avoided. Alternative or additional a cutout angle between a straight line running radially through the axis of rotation of the circular blade and the side edges of the cutting elements is chosen so large that a rubbing of the side edges of the cutting elements on the walls of the opening of the counter die is avoided. Both measures leading to a further minimization of the required amount of force for the production of a punch.  
           [0023]    An especially useful version of the invention shows that the cutting elements are made form a material unit with the circular blade. This measure in particular has manufacturing advantages. On the one hand, assembly costs can be avoided for fixing the cutting elements at the circular blade. On the other hand, the production of the blade is possible with the cutting elements in a working cycle.  
           [0024]    A further useful version of the invention shows that the cutting elements at the distance of the rolling circle radius r W  from the axis of rotation of the circular blade have the cross section, which correspond to the cross section of the punch to be made for the binding comb of the ring binding. This measure causes an unchangeably high quality of the punch, which at least is comparably with the punch made by dice.  
           [0025]    For the production of a punch with preferably rectangular cross section, the cutting elements show a swallowtail shaped basic body. This basic body preferably shows a constant axial thickness which basically corresponds to a hole width of the hole to be made.  
           [0026]    The width of the swallowtail shaped basic body in circumference direction at the distance of the outside radius r A  from the axis of rotation of the blade is given through the punch length of the hole to be made. The basic body at its radially inner foot is limited by the side edges and at its radially outer surface through the cutting edges. Such a shape of the cutting elements is very simply producible, in particular then, if the cutting elements form a material unit with the blade.  
           [0027]    The counter die surface is advantageous build up as a plane tier, or it is arranged on the circumference of a disc, so that the counter die surface basically builds up a cylinder barrel.  
           [0028]    In an especially useful version of the invention the surface of the counter die moves during the turning of the circular blade relative to its axis of rotation perpendicular to the blade at the distance the rolling circle radius r W  of the axis of rotation of the blade with a circumferential speed of the fictive rolling circle. It is unimportant in this case whether the counter die surface is fixed and the circular blade only moves or whether the circular blade and the counter die move. The relative movement is alone decisive. Therefore, in this version of invention in the case of a flat counter die no relative movement of the paper occurs to the counter die itself.  
           [0029]    Further on the invention shows, that the number of cutting elements which are simultaneously in contact with the opening of the counter die is optional changeably. Such a variability on the one hand, is possible by a corresponding order of the cutting elements, on the other hand, by a corresponding choice of the rolling circle radius for r W  of the rolling circle and the radius of the cylinder on that the counter die is positioned. Consequently is it possible to choose the amount of force and the necessary torque for the punch process with the number of cutting elements which are simultaneously in contact with the opening of the counter die.  
           [0030]    The cutting edges of the opening of the counter die preferably have the shape, which correspond to the cross section of the holes to be made for the binding comb of the ring binding.  
           [0031]    An especially useful version of the invention consists in the fact that the surface of the counter die and therefore the counter die itself stands still relative to the axis of rotation of the circular blade while turning the circular blade. Such a set-up is especially useful, if the counter die surface is build up as a tier. In this case only one opening in the counter die is necessary into those the cutting elements of the circular blade in sequence may intervene.  
           [0032]    In the case of the punch process the paper which is arranged on the counter die moves here over the matrix surface with the circumferential speed of the fictive rolling circle of the blade so that the cutting edges of the cutting elements cut the hole into the paper.  
           [0033]    In an especially useful version of invention the cutting edges of the cutting elements are carried out in such a way, that they do not at least in the beginning of the punch process cut into paper simultaneously. This is the case if the cutting edges raise differently high over the rolling circle radius and show increasing edges. The necessary cutting force and therefore the necessary torque can be further decreased by this measure to the blade.  
           [0034]    Further useful is if the punch unit is arranged in combination with a single-page thread and/or a paper screening plant and/or a binder. Such a configuration is reasonable, if the binding procedure should be automatized.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0035]    Useful versions of the invention are represented in the drawing and are described more in the following. The drawings show:  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 1 a top view onto a circular blade with material homogeneous cutting elements,  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 2 a view in the axial half cut of the circular blade according to FIG. 1  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 3 a top view onto a flat counter die with openings,  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 4 a sectional drawing of the counter die according to FIG. 3,  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5 a top view of a further circular blade with material homogeneous cutting elements,  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 6 a view in the axial half cut of the circular blade according to FIG. 5  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 7 a top view onto a flat counter die fit to the circular blade according to FIGS. 5 and 6,  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 8 a sectional drawing of the counter die according to FIG. 7,  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 9 a top view onto a disc with a counter die arranged on its circumference,  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 10 a view in the axial half cut of the disc according to FIG. 9.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0046]    [0046]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first invention appropriate version of a circular blade  1  with material homogeneous cutting elements  2 . Such a circular blade  1  consists of a circular, normally metallic basic body with a blade thickness d S . This blade thickness d S  essentially corresponds to the hole width b L  of a hole to be made. In practice, the hole widths b L  are usual about two to four millimeters.  
         [0047]    The circular blade  1  shows at its external circumference swallowtail shaped incisions  10 . On account of these incisions  10  at the external circumference of the circular blade  1  also swallowtail shaped cutting elements  2  are created. The thickness of the swallowtail shaped basic body of the cutting elements  2  consequently, corresponds the blade thickness d S . This swallowtail shaped basic body is limited on the side through side edges  7  and at its outer front surface through cutting edges  8 . Therefore, the cutting edges  8  form a segment of a circle in circumference direction with the cut edge length l S . A straight line running radially through the centre of circular blade  1  and the side edges  7  of the cutting elements  2  include a cutout angle, that is designated with α. The cut edge length l S  of the cutting edge  8 , created by the preferably circle segment shaped cutting elements  2  conducts in practice preferably about 2 to 10 mm.  
         [0048]    In order to be able to put the circular blade  1  into rotary motion, the circular blade  1  must be interlinked via axis of rotation to a cranked control handle or an engine. In the case of this version, the circular blade continues itself material homogeneously for this purpose as a cylindrical coupling  4 . The outer diameter of this round coupling  4  is less than the outer diameter of circular blade  1  on which the cutting elements  2  are placed. In place of a such a material homogeneous coupling  4 , it is also possible to attach such a coupling to the circular blade  1  with the aid of fixing elements (for example with the aid of screws or similar elements).  
         [0049]    In the example, the coupling  4  and circular blade  1  is provided with a central boring  3 . The centre of this central boring  3  forms the axis of rotation  27 . The central boring  3  is used for the insert of an axis  6 . In the example the central boring  3  shows a circular cross section. A further favoured carrying out form is a polygonal cross section.  
         [0050]    In the example, the cylindrical coupling  4  shows a radial boring  5  with an inside thread, into which one a screw is inserted for the fixation of the axis  6  in the central boring  3 .  
         [0051]    As a counterpart to the circular blade  1  serves counter dies according to FIGS. 3 and 4 or  9  and  10 .  
         [0052]    [0052]FIGS. 3 and 4 show a flat counter die  19  which shows a two-dimensional flat surface. One or several opening  20  pierce the depth t 1  of the flat counter die  19 . The cross section of the opening  20  of the counter die  19  on its surface essentially corresponds to the cross section of the hole to be made for the binding comb of the ring binding. In this case, the hole to be made shows a rectangular cross section for the binding comb with the hole width of b L  and of the punch length l L .  
         [0053]    Between the perpendicular on the surface of the flat counter die  19  and the inside walls of the opening  20  of the flat counter die  19 , a cutout angle β is formed.  
         [0054]    The two cutout angles α and β of the circular blade  1  andd/or the counter die  19  are preferably chosen so large that a friction of the side edges  7  of the cutting elements  2  on the walls of the opening  20  of the flat counter die  19  is avoided.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIGS. 9 and 10 show a further version of the invention in which the counter die  9  is arranged on the circumference of a disc  13 .  
         [0056]    The disc  13  with the counter die  9  is carried out in this version with two parts. It consists of a basic body  16  with material homogeneous coupling  11  and a second disc  17 .  
         [0057]    The basic body  16  essentially consists of a circular disc of the basic body thickness d G . This basic body  16  shows an axial boring with a depth which corresponds to the hole width b L . The boring radius corresponds to the inner radius r 1  in accordance with FIG. 9. The outside radius of the basic body is in the drawing with r a  designated.  
         [0058]    The cylinder caused by this boring of the thickness t 2 =r a −r i  which represents the depth t 2  of counter die  9 . This cylinder shows opening  12  preferably inserted by milling. This opening  12  correspond to the opening  20  of the flat counter die  19  in accordance with FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The cross section of this opening at the outer surface of the basic body  16 , which is shaped as a cylinder, corresponds basically analog to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 the cross section of the punch to be made for the binding comb of the ring binding, therefore in the example a rectangular cross section with the punch length l L  and the hole width b L .  
         [0059]    The coupling which is in material unit to the basic body  16  is carried out analogous to that of the circular blade  1  according to FIG. 1 and  2 . The coupling has a central boring  14  which is used for the insert of an axis and a radial boring  15  (with an inside thread) for the insert of a fixing element (in the example of a screw).  
         [0060]    For the further reduction of the cutting forces in the case of the punch process, a version of the punch unit is, in particular the circular blade  1  in accordance with FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 possible.  
         [0061]    Basically the circular blade  1  consists like in the first version of a normally metallic circular basic body with a blade thickness d S . This blade thickness d S  basically corresponds to the hole width b L  of a hole to be made.  
         [0062]    The circular blade  1  shows swallowtail shaped incisions  10  at its outer circumference. On account of these incisions  10 , are the cutting elements  2  at the outer surface of the circular blade  1  also swallowtail shaped. Consequently, the thickness of the basic body of the swallowtail shaped cutting elements  2  corresponds to the blade thickness d S .  
         [0063]    In contrast to the previous versions the radius of circular blade  1  changes with the blade thickness d S . In accordance with FIG. 6 the radius r S  of the circular blade increases from a minimum value r s.min  on the front of circular blade  1  to the reverse side of the circular blade  1  to the maximum radius of the r s.max . In the example the increase of the radius r S  is not linear but progressive so that the projection of a cutting element  2  onto a tier normally to the tier of the circular blade  1  shows a trapezoidal form.  
         [0064]    The trapezoidal form of the flat counter die  19  represented in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 can be constructed from the circular blade  1  as represented in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0065]    In practice however, are the geometrical forms of the projection tier defaulted and the corresponding cutting edges  8  of cutting elements  2  constructed.  
         [0066]    The length of the opening  20  of the counter die is determined by the depth of insertion of the circular blade  1  into the flat counter die  19 . The point  23  of the entry of the maximum radius r s.max  of the circular blade  1 , point  25  of the entry of the minimum radius r s.min  of the circular blade  1  and point  24  of the withdrawal of the maximum radius r s.max  of the circular blade  1  of the flat counter die  19  are resulted. As a further point a further point of entry  26  of the circular blade is shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0067]    The points  23  and  24  define the points  23 ′ and  24 ′ in the tier of the flat counter die  19  and therefore the length of the cross section of the opening  20  of the counter die  19 .  
         [0068]    In the example, the cross section of the opening  20  of the counter die shows a trapezoidal shaped form, with three sides perpendicular to each other and one side, that includes an angle δ with the shortest side of the trapeze.  
         [0069]    From this projection angle δ the form of the rounding of the generated surface of the circular blade can be developed. Points  23 ,  24 ,  25  and  26  become projected onto the cutting tier. They make the points  23 ′,  24 ′,  25 ′ and  26 ′ on the cutting tier. These points  23 ′,  24 ′,  25 ′ and  26 ′ are also on the surface of the cutting elements  2  and describe by the rotative movement of the circular blade  1  a circular orbit. The intersection points of the circular orbit with the cutting edge  8  of the cutting elements  2  make the points  23 ″,  24 ″,  25 ″ and  26 ″ in accordance with FIG. 6. In the example is it possible to reconstruct in turn with the points  23 ″,  24 ″,  25 ″ the curve of the cutting edge  8  of the cutting elements  2 .  
         [0070]    Such versions of a punch unit described in FIGS.  1  to  10  are suitable for integration into a traditional binder. Furthermore, a combination with a single-page thread and/or a paper screening plant leads to the automatization of the punch and binding procedure.  
       POSITION MARK LIST  
       [0071]    [0071] 1  circular blade  
         [0072]    [0072] 2  cutting element  
         [0073]    [0073] 3  central boring  
         [0074]    [0074] 4  coupling  
         [0075]    [0075] 5  radial boring  
         [0076]    [0076] 6  axis  
         [0077]    [0077] 7  side edge  
         [0078]    [0078] 8  cutting edge  
         [0079]    [0079] 9  counter die  
         [0080]    [0080] 10  incision  
         [0081]    [0081] 11  coupling  
         [0082]    [0082] 12  opening  
         [0083]    [0083] 13  disc with counter die on the circumference  
         [0084]    [0084] 14  central boring  
         [0085]    [0085] 15  radial boring  
         [0086]    [0086] 16  basic body  
         [0087]    [0087] 17  disc  
         [0088]    [0088] 18  central boring  
         [0089]    [0089] 19  flat counter die  
         [0090]    [0090] 20  opening  
         [0091]    [0091] 21  rolling circle  
         [0092]    [0092] 22  cutting edge  
         [0093]    [0093] 23  entry point of r s.max    
         [0094]    [0094] 23 ′ projection of entry point  23  onto the cutting tier  
         [0095]    [0095] 23 ″ point on the cutting edge of cutting element  2  in accordance with entry point  23  and the projection  23 ′ of entry point  23   
         [0096]    [0096] 24  withdrawal point of r s.max    
         [0097]    [0097] 24 ′ projection of entry point  24  onto the cutting tier  
         [0098]    [0098] 24 ″ point on the cutting edge of the cutting element  2  in accordance with the entry point  24   
         [0099]    [0099] 25  entry point of r s.min    
         [0100]    [0100] 25 ′ projection of entry point  25  onto the cutting tier  
         [0101]    [0101] 25 ″ point on the cutting edge of the cutting element  2  in accordance with the entry point  25   
         [0102]    [0102] 26  further entry point  
         [0103]    [0103] 26 ′ Projection of entry point  26   
         [0104]    [0104] 26 ″ Point on the cutting edge of the cutting element  2  in accordance with the entry point  26   
         [0105]    [0105] 27  Axis of rotation  
         [0106]    α cutout angle  
         [0107]    β cutout angle  
         [0108]    δ projection angle  
         [0109]    l S  cut edge length  
         [0110]    d S  blade thickness  
         [0111]    d G  basic body thickness  
         [0112]    t 1 , t 2  depth  
         [0113]    r a  outside radius  
         [0114]    r i  inside radius  
         [0115]    l L  hole length  
         [0116]    b L  hole width  
         [0117]    r s.max  maximum radius of the blade  
         [0118]    r s.min  minimum radius of the blade  
         [0119]    r W  rolling circle radius  
         [0120]    r S  Radius of blade  1