Abstract:
In order to realize a particularly compact binding-in machine ( 40 ), the pressing devices ( 41 ) with the firmly assigned joint forming devices ( 42 ) can be driven along a circulation path that essentially lies in a vertical plane, wherein the pressing plates ( 41.1 ) of the pressing devices ( 41 ) are oriented parallel to this plane. The pressing devices ( 41 ) and the joint forming devices ( 42 ) are simply arranged on a rotor ( 40.3 ) that rotates about a horizontal axis ( 40.4 ), wherein the axis of rotation ( 40.4 ) of the rotor is oriented perpendicular to the pressing plates ( 41.0 ). This significantly simplifies the infeed and the delivery of the books ( 1 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to a binding-in machine for pressing in and joint forming books. 
         [0002]    After casing-in the book block in the case, a crease-free and permanent glued connection between the end sheets of the book block and the inner surfaces of the case is produced by pressing in the book. In industrial book production, this full surface pressing step is carried out on so-called binding-in machines in combination with the joint forming, in which the case joints are formed and glued. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,921,322 describes a binding-in machine with a multitude of pressing devices that are arranged in a straight row and spaced apart from one another by identical distances, wherein each pressing device features a pair of opposite pressing plates that are spaced apart from one another by a variable distance and serve for exerting a pressing force upon the sides of a book. Pairs of oppositely arranged and heated joint forming rails are respectively spaced apart from one another by a variable distance and assigned to the stationary pressing devices in order to form the case joints. The joint forming rails are situated on a transport carriage that can be moved back and forward and simultaneously serve as transport means for incrementally advancing the books from station to station, wherein these joint forming rails ultimately return into their starting position in order to receive and transport another book. The joint forming consequently is realized by briefly pressing in the joint forming rails repeatedly, wherein this requires higher temperatures in the joint forming rails that are particularly critical when heat-sensitive case materials are used. 
         [0004]    DE 10 2004 061 995 A1 describes an additional development of the aforementioned binding-in machine, in which the joint forming devices are situated on transport means that are guided along a closed circulation path such that the books can be advanced from pressing station to pressing station in a cyclic fashion while being constantly taken hold of by one and the same pair of joint forming rails. The books are no longer released by the joint forming rails such that more time is available for the heat to act upon the case material. One disadvantage can be seen in that the books are only held in the case joint by the joint forming rails during their transport. 
         [0005]    EP 384 129 B1 discloses a binding-in machine with a multitude of pressing devices that are continuously driven along a closed oval circulation path, as well as joint forming devices arranged on the pressing devices. The infeed of the cased book blocks takes place on a straight section of the transport system and the delivery of the formed and backed books takes place on the opposite straight section. The full surface pressing is carried out while the entire surface of the books is permanently accommodated in the pressing devices and the joint forming rails may be continuously held in the closed position. The disadvantage of this machine can be seen in the significant constructive expenditure for the transport system with the circulating pressing devices and for the mechanisms for feeding, aligning and delivering the books into and out of the continuously moving pressing devices. 
         [0006]    DE 44 22 783 A1 describes a binding-in machine, in which a series of pressing devices are arranged on a rotor that is intermittently driven about a vertical axis of rotation, wherein the pressing plates are arranged quasi-tangentially on the rotor circumference. The joint forming devices are situated on the pressing devices and moved forward together therewith. From the infeed to the delivery, the books are permanently held in one and the same pressing device. In this case, the joint forming rails may remain closed in an uninterrupted fashion. 
         [0007]    This machine design results in a complicated and heavy construction due to the fact that, among other things, the driving elements for generating the pressing force during full surface pressing are arranged on a rotating rotor and the forces of pressure acting upon the books for realizing the full surface pressing need to be absorbed in the rotor construction. The high forces of gravity resulting therefrom limit the cycle rate. This cycle rate is also limited due to the fact that the books can only be fed into the pressing devices once the rotor has come to a standstill, and that not only the infeed, but also the aligning and post-forming need to take place during the standstill phase. A capacity increase is achieved with the paired arrangement of the pressing devices on the rotor. However, this requires a substantial additional expenditure for the two parallel book flows in the infeed section and the delivery section of the machine. 
         [0008]    Another disadvantage of known binding-in machines with circulating pressing devices is their significant space requirement. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]    The present invention is based on the objective of developing a binding-in machine for pressing in and joint forming book blocks cased into cases wherein it should be possible to reliably and flawlessly realize the pressing and joint forming of the books, as well as a high cycle rate, with a compact construction. 
         [0010]    This objective is attained in that the pressing devices with the joint forming devices can be driven such that they circulate along a closed path that essentially lies in a vertical plane, wherein the pressing plates are oriented parallel to this plane. The advantage of a reliable transport is achieved in that the books are continuously held in one and the same pressing device during their circulation. The joint forming rails may remain continuously closed in order to realize a gentle joint forming process. The vertical arrangement of the circulation path results in an exceptionally compact machine. Only a small floor area is required. Due to the pressing plates that are oriented parallel to the plane of circulation, the books accommodated in the pressing devices are situated in this plane of circulation during all phases of their transport. An infeed and a delivery of the books therefore also takes place, in principle, during the movement of the pressing device such that higher cycle rates of the binding-in machine can be achieved. 
         [0011]    The joint forming rails of the joint forming devices are preferably always oriented transverse to the transport direction of the pressing devices. According to one advantageous additional development, the pressing devices are arranged on a rotor that rotates about a horizontal axis together with the joint forming devices, wherein the axis of rotation of the rotor is oriented perpendicular to the pressing plates. 
         [0012]    The pressing devices with the pressing plates can be situated in an open position, a guiding position and/or a closed or clamping position. It is preferred that a format adjustment to the book thickness is realized during the positioning. In the closed or clamping position, at least a holding force that suffices for the reliable transport of the books in the circulating pressing devices can be exerted between the pressing plates. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment, the joint forming rails of the joint forming devices can be actuated for forming, holding and/or releasing the case joints. The joint forming rails are preferably spaced apart from the book spine by a large distance in the release position. 
         [0014]    It is advantageous if the pressing devices and the assigned joint forming devices can be closed and opened above the book center because the desired book shape is also realized symmetrically referred to the book center. 
         [0015]    The pressing devices with the joint forming devices are preferably driven intermittently such that, according to an advantageous additional development, stationary work stations for feeding, aligning, post-forming, pressing and/or delivering the books may be arranged along the circulation path. 
         [0016]    It is particularly advantageous to realize a stationary feeding and aligning station with a horizontally arranged alignment table that supports the book in the spine region and a forming rail that can be lowered on the fore edge cut. In this case, the alignment process is not carried out on a moving book and can also be comfortably observed and corrected, if so required. 
         [0017]    The advantage of a higher cycle rate is achieved by feeding the books in the plane of the circulation path essentially transverse to the transport direction of the pressing devices, wherein the infeed already takes place when the respective pressing device is still advanced to the feeding and aligning station. 
         [0018]    It is advantageous if the actual pressing of the books takes place in at least one stationary pressing station, in which the pressing plate situated in the clamping position can be additionally acted upon with a high force of pressure generated by the pressing means supported in the machine frame. The pressing devices do not have to exert this high pressing force themselves, but rather only a much lower holding force. They can be designed much lighter and simpler such that the moving mass of the circulation system is maintained small and an additional increase in the cycle rate can be achieved. 
         [0019]    A stationary delivery station is preferably provided for the gripped delivery of the formed and backed books, wherein the pressing device is controlled into the guiding position with minimally opened pressing plates in this case and the books are pulled out of the respective pressing device by means of joint clamping rails that engage into the formed case joints in order to be transferred to a downstream transport system. Even books adhering to the pressing plates are quickly and reliably removed from the pressing devices. The joint clamping rails are preferably situated on a pivoted arm that moves in said circulation path, wherein the pivoting arm approaches the respective pressing device in the same transport direction and moves away from the pressing device in the opposite direction when the books are pulled out. 
         [0020]    In order to additionally increase the capacity, two arrangements of circulating pressing devices may be positioned parallel to one another. The advantage of a direct alternate transfer of books delivered from an upstream casing-in machine is achieved by driving the two arrangements offset in phase by 180°. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The characteristics of one embodiment of the present invention are described in greater detail below with reference to the enclosed figures, in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective representation of a binding-in machine with two rotors that are arranged parallel to one another in a first moving phase; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a representation according to  FIG. 1  of the binding-in machine in a second moving phase; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the binding-in machine with an upstream casing-in machine; 
           [0025]    Figure is a section through the feeding and aligning station of the binding-in machine with a book deposited therein, namely along the line of section IV in  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a section according to  FIG. 4  through the feeding and aligning station in the instant in which a book is aligned and post-formed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]    Book blocks  2  and cases  3  are connected into books  1  in a casing-in machine  10 . A binding-in machine  40  is arranged downstream of the casing-in machine  10  and produces a crease-free and permanent glued connection between the end sheets of the book block  2  and the inner pages of the case by pressing in the book  1 . This full-surface pressing step takes place in combination with the joint forming step, during which the case joints  1   c  are formed and glued. 
         [0028]    The inventive binding-in machine  40  described further below is directly coupled to the casing-in machine  10  by means of a book delivery  20  that continuously holds the books  1 , as well as an assigned gripper  30 . 1  or  30 . 2  that can be pivoted back and forward such that a separate cyclic feed of the books  1  is not required. However, the inventive machine may also be used as an individual machine with a corresponding cyclic feed device. 
         [0029]    The function of the casing-in machine  10  with the book delivery  20  is initially described below with reference to  FIG. 3 . The book blocks  2  are fed to a circulation conveyor  10 . 3  by a book block transport chain  10 . 1 , wherein said circulation conveyor transports the book blocks  2  astraddle on support plates  10 . 4  such that they are always positioned vertically. During the vertical transport movement of the book blocks, glue is applied over the entire surface of their end sheets by means of gluing rollers  10 . 6  and the book blocks are subsequently connected to cases  3  supplied by a case transport unit  10 . 2 . The thusly created books  1  may subsequently also pass through pressing rollers  10 . 7 . 
         [0030]    During the additional transport, the downwardly moving books  1  reach a book delivery unit  20  that lies in the plane of motion  10 . 5  of the support plates  10 . 4 , wherein the fore edge cut  1   b  of the books  1  is placed onto a stripping element  20 . 5  that features a through-slot for guiding through the support plates  10 . 4 . The stripping element  20 . 5  forms part of the a book receptacle, by means of which the books  1  can be transferred from the stripping position  20 . 10  into a delivery position  20 . 11  or  20 . 12  that is offset parallel to the plane of motion, namely while the books are additionally supported by lateral supporting rails  20 . 6 . 
         [0031]    In order to divide the book flow situated in the circulation conveyor  10 . 3 , a first and a second book receptacle may alternately receive the books  1  from the stripping position  20 . 10  and transfer the books into left and right delivery positions  20 . 11  and  20 . 12  referred to the plane of motion (in this context, see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0032]    In order to process the divided book flow, the binding-in machine  40  illustrated in the figures consists of left and right binding-in machines  40 . 1  and  40 . 2  that are essentially realized identically, but intermittently driven offset in phase by 180°. A multitude of pressing devices  41  are respectively arranged in these binding-in machines on a rotor  40 . 3 , the axis of rotation  40 . 4  of which is oriented perpendicular to the pressing devices  41  and extends horizontally such the pressing devices  41  quasi revolve overhead in a vertical plane. The joint forming devices  42  are also situated on the rotor  40 . 3  and rotate together with the pressing devices  41 . Their joint forming rails  42 . 1  essentially extend radially referred to the axis of rotation  40 . 4  of the rotor. 
         [0033]    The binding-in machine is designed such that the books  1  are continuously held in one and the same pressing device  41  and that the joint forming rails  42 . 1  heated by means of heating rods can be continuously held in the closed position so as to realize a gentle joint forming process. 
         [0034]    The pressing devices  41  are formed by a pair of opposite pressing plates  41 . 1  that are spaced apart by a variable distance and can be set into an open position  41 . 11 , a guiding position  41 . 12  and a clamping position  41 . 13  symmetrically above the book center while being accommodated on the actuating arms  41 . 2 . The actuating arms  41 . 2  are guided in a guide rail  41 . 3  fixed on the rotor  40 . 3 . The control means for the actuation of the actuating arms  41 . 3  and therefore the pressing plates  41 . 1  may consist of pneumatic, hydraulic or electric driving means or engage into mechanical cam plates. A specific design is not illustrated in the figures in order to provide a better overview. 
         [0035]    The joint forming rails  42 . 1  of the joint forming devices  42  are accommodated on actuating arms  42 . 3  that are displaceably guided in guide rails  42 . 4  fixed on the rotor  40 . 3  and actuated symmetrically above the book center with the aid of not-shown control means in order to form, hold and/or release the case joints  1   c  by means of the joint forming rails  42 . 1 . In the release position, the joint forming rails  42 . 1  are spaced apart from the book spine by a large distance such that the books  1  can be received and delivered in the plane of motion of the pressing devices  41 . 
         [0036]    The intermittent rotor movement makes it possible to act upon the books  1  by means of stationary work stations in the standstill positions of the pressing devices  41 , for example, in order to feed, align, post-form, press in or deliver the books. 
         [0037]    The feeding and aligning station  43  is initially described below. It is situated at a location at which the pressing devices  41  with the joint forming devices  42  are oriented horizontally in order to accommodate the books  1  with the spine la pointing downward. As mentioned above, the books  1  are delivered out of the casing-in machine  10  in a left and a right delivery position  20 . 11  and  20 . 12  with the spine la pointing upward. 
         [0038]    A double book gripper  30  arranged upstream of the feeding and aligning station  43  makes it possible to transfer the books  1  from the respective left and right delivery positions  20 . 11  and  20 . 12  (in the form of upstream transfer positions) into (from the viewpoint of the casing-in machine  10 ) second left and right delivery positions  30 . 11  and  30 . 12 , wherein the books  1  are turned and directly deposited on an alignment table  43 . 1  of a feeding and aligning station  43  with their spine  1   a.    
         [0039]    The double book gripper  30  features a left and a right book gripper  30 . 1  and  30 . 2  for transferring the divided book flow, wherein said book grippers can be pivoted back and forward about a pivoting axis  30 . 3  by 180°, namely in a diametrically opposite fashion as symbolized in the figures with corresponding motion arrows. The books  1  are laterally taken hold of by a left and a right clamping jaw  30 . 4  and  30 . 5  in a region that is left exposed by the left and right supporting rails  20 . 6 . For this purpose, the supporting rails  20 . 6  are realized in an L-shaped fashion. 
         [0040]    It is possible to deposit the books  1  on the alignment table  43 . 1  in a predetermined position with parallel pivot point adjustments  30 . 6 ,  30 . 7  of the pivoting axis  30 . 3  in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction—as symbolically illustrated with broken double arrows in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0041]    The horizontal pivot point adjustment  30 . 6  makes it possible to define the position of the books in the horizontal direction, i.e., in the direction in which the book height extends. In the casing-in machine  10 , the books  1  are transported astraddle on the support plates  10 . 4  with a foot edge  20 . 13  of fixed format. However, in the binding-in machine  40 , a book center  30 . 13  of fixed format is desirable such that the books  1  are centrally clamped in the pressing devices  41 . During format changes, this reference edge change can be automated in the form of a corresponding horizontal pivot point adjustment  30 . 6  in dependence on the respective change in the book height. 
         [0042]    The vertical pivot point adjustment  30 . 7  makes it possible to define the position of the books in the vertical direction, i.e., in the direction in which the book width extends. After being positioned on the stripping element  20 . 5 , the books  1  are delivered out of the casing-in machine  10  with the fore edge cut  1   b  as fixed reference edge  20 . 14 . However, the books  1  need to be fed to the binding-in machine  40  with the spine  1   a  as fixed reference edge  30 . 14 . During format changes, this reference edge change can be automated in the form of a corresponding vertical pivot point adjustment  30 . 7  in dependence on the respective change in the book width, wherein the spine shape, i.e., a straight or a curved spine shape, as well as the radius of the curvature, can also be taken into account. 
         [0043]    As described above, the books  1  are deposited on the alignment table  43 . 1  with their spine  1   a  in the feeding and aligning station  43 . The alignment table is formed by two prism strips  43 . 2  that are arranged parallel to one another and support the respective book  1  on the outer edges of its book spine with plane, inclined supporting surfaces for the outer edges of the book spine, wherein the distance between the prism strips  43 . 2  is adjustable with respect to the book thickness. 
         [0044]    The respective book gripper  30 . 1  or  30 . 2  directly transfers the books  1  between the pressing plates  41 . 1  of the pressing devices  41  that are initially controlled into a correspondingly opened position  41 . 11  for this purpose and closed into a guiding position  41 . 12  after the book gripper  30 . 1  or  30 . 2  is pivoted away in order to form a defined guide channel, in which the books  1  to be aligned are tightly guided. 
         [0045]    Stationary lateral guides  43 . 4  that can be adjusted to the book thickness are assigned to the alignment table  43 . 1  in order to form a shaft  43 . 3  that holds the books  1  in the vertical position, wherein the alignment table  43 . 1  is controlled into a lowered depositing position  43 . 11  referred to the height of the joint forming rails  42 . 1  while it receives a book  1  from the book gripper  30 . 1  or  30 . 2 , respectively, and raised into a predefined aligning position relative to the lateral guides  43 . 4  in order to align and post-form the book  1 , and wherein the books  1  are in the meantime supported by the pressing plates  41 . 1  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
         [0046]    The alignment table  43 . 1  is only raised by a short stroke such that no unnecessary capacity restrictions are created. Alternatively, the alignment table  43 . 1  may be fixed in said alignment position  43 . 12 , in which case the lateral guides  43 . 4  are downwardly moved out of the effective range of the pressing plates  41 . 1 . 
         [0047]    When the alignment table  43 . 1  is raised, a forming rail  43 . 5  that can be moved up and down in a guide rail  43 . 7  on a support arm  43 . 6  is initially lowered on the fore edge cut  1   b  of the book  1  with a slight force of pressure in order to subsequently press the book block into the spine of the case with an increased force of pressure after the joint forming rails  42 . 1  take hold of the case joints  1   c  and thusly post-form the book, wherein the alignment table  43 . 1  is, if applicable, minimally lowered. Both cover boards are pulled against the joint forming rails  42 . 1  by means of the jointed center strip and end sheet. The book block  2  and the case  3  can thusly be aligned relative to one another while simultaneously post-forming the book  1 . 
         [0048]    The plane of motion of the respective book gripper  30 . 1  or  30 . 2  is identical to the plane of motion of the pressing devices  41 . This makes it possible to feed the books  1  while the rotor  40 . 3  is still driven, wherein the respective pressing device  41  is quasi moved upward into the aligning and post-forming station  43  around the alignment table  43 . 1  while its pressing plates  41 . 1  are controlled into the open position  41 . 11 . The rotational movement of the pressing devices  41  ideally comes to a standstill when the book gripper  30 . 1  or  30 . 2  has deposited a book  1  to be processed on the alignment table  43 . 1  and is already pivoted back out of the effective range of the pressing plates  41 . 1  such that the pressing devices  41  can be controlled into their guiding position  41 . 12  immediately thereafter and the alignment table  43 . 1  carrying the book  1  can be raised into the aligning position  43 . 12 . 
         [0049]    After the aligning and post-forming processes are completed, the forming rail  43 . 5  is upwardly moved out of the pressing plates  41 . 1  and the pressing device  41  is controlled into its clamping position  41 . 13 , in which the full surface of the books  1  is already subjected to a certain pressure. In addition, the heated joint forming rails  42 . 1  close with increased pressure in order to form the case joints  1   c.  The rotor movement may begin in the instant in which the forming rail  43 . 5  is lifted off the fore edge cut  1   b  of the book  1  in order to respectively advance the pressing devices  41  by one position. 
         [0050]    During their intermittent rotation, the pressing devices  41  pass through a not-shown pressing station, in which an increased force of pressure can be externally exerted upon the pressing plates  41  while the rotor is at a standstill in order to realize the actual full-surface pressing of the books  1 . Pressure plates  44 . 2  are accommodated in a machine frame  44 . 1  with the aid of linear guides  44 . 3 , wherein said pressure plates may, for example, be opened and closed by hydraulic pressure cylinders  44 . 4  and act upon pressure cushions  41 . 4  of the pressing plates  41 . 1 . 
         [0051]    Furthermore, a delivery station  45  is provided, in which the books  1  can be removed from the pressing devices  41 . In order to alternately remove the books  1  from the two separate binding-in machines  40 . 1  and  40 . 2 , the delivery station, features a left and a right gripper  45 . 1  and  45 . 2  that can be pivoted back and forward in opposition of phase about a pivoting axis  45 . 3  that is symbolized in the figures with corresponding motion narrows. The books are taken hold of in the case joint  1   c  by means of left and right joint clamping rails  45 . 4  and  45 . 5  and pulled out of the pressing devices  41  that are controlled into the guiding Position  41 . 12  in order to be transferred into a left and a right delivery position  45 . 11  and  45 . 12 . In order to take hold of the case joints  1 c, the joint forming rails  42 . 1  are retracted into a release position. The books  1  are subsequently received by a not-shown transport system and transported away from the binding-in machine.