Patent GB-246921-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in book-binding machines
IPC: B42C11/02
Filed: 1924-11-05
Abstract: 246,921. Young, G. W. Nov. 5, 1924. Addition to 202,350. Bookbinding - machines. - The bookbinding-machine described in the parent Specification is modified by providing (1) means for feeding the books, pamphlets, &c. into the machine, (2) alternative means for rotating the glueing-roller either independently at any desired speed or at the same speed as the book grippers, (3) improved throw-out gear for regulating the upward feed of the table carrying the book covers, (4) pressing-plates which press the cover upon the sides of the book before delivery, and (5) auxiliary apparatus from which covers gummed all over one side are automatically fed to the machine when a limp binding is desired. (1) The oppositely reciprocating grippers a, b, Fig. 1, are slidable upon horizontal guides a<1> under the action of levers a', b' operating as described in the parent Specification. The books are fed, backs downwards, to the machine by endless travelling bands c, Fig. 3, arranged at right angles to the path of the grippers, being guided by adjustable side plates c<4> and pivoted bars c' which bear upon the tops of the books. A vertical release plate c‹ pivoted at the forward end of the bands is operated by cam-controlled levers o' to swing back, allowing a book to drop between guide plates c<8> on to a slidable plate c' operated by cam-actuated levers C", whereupon the book drops upon a bracket C<13> and is engaged by the grippers of the carriage a. (2) The glueing roller d, Fig. 1, which rotates in a gas-heated glue container d<1>, is driven either continuously by a separate electric motor at a speed slightly less than that of the reciprocating book-gripping carriage a, or, by connecting it to the carriage, it may be driven during the forward travel only of the carriage, and at a speed equal to that of the carriage. The latter device may comprise a chain or cord d<3> attached at one end to the carriage and wrapped around a spring drum d<4>, which is rotated in one direction by the pull of the carriage and is connected by a pawl-andratchet gear d<5> to a shaft which drives the shaft of the glueing-roller through skew gears on an intermediate shaft d<6>. The shaft carrying the spring drum d<4> may also be geared to the shaft of the separate electric motor, a, free-wheel device being provided to render this drive inoperative when the glueing-roller is propelled by the connection to the carriage. (3) The table e, Figs. 1 and 5, supporting th pile of covers is raised step by step by a screw-shaft e<1> provided with a nut e<2> having exterior ratchet teeth engaging oscillating pawls e<3>. The pawls e<3> are mounted on arms e<4> which are oscillated against the action of a spring e<5> by a cam e<6> on one of the main crank shafts. The throw-out gear comprises a vertically slidable feeler e<9> which bears upon the uppermost cover when the table is fed to a predetermined height and is thereby lifted, turning a series of levers e<8> or other means which cause a wedge member to bear upon the pawls e<3> and disengage them from the ratchet wheel e<2> until the subsequent removal of one or more covers allows the feeler e<9> to drop. The table is lifted momentarily to apply the uppermost cover to the glued back of a book, as described in the parent Specification. (4) The book, with the cover adhering to the back, is released from the carriage a and gripped in the carriage b, means, comprising a spring-controlled latch f, Fig. 1, being provided to ensure that sliding movement of the carriage is prevented if the book grippers have not been fully actuated by the link mechanism connecting them to the lever b<2>. The carriage b carries the book over one or more rollers g of which the first may press the back of the cover, the others being flanged to crease the back. These rollers are driven at a speed equal to that of the book bv a gearing g<1> driven by an endless chain g<2> having an horizontal run which is engaged by a bracket g<3> on the carriage b. At the end of the travel the book is released and falls between a pair of pressing-plates h, h<1>, Fig. 4, on to a slidable plate h<2>. The plate h<1> is pivoted at h<3> on an arm h<4> which is connected by a link to a cam on a shaft h<5>. and at the instant the book is released the plate h<1> is inclined away from the plate h. When the book is on the plate h<2> the plate h<1> and arm h<4> are pressed towards it by a bell-crank lever h<5> driven from the cam shaft, after which the link connection lifts the arm h<4> to swing the plate h<1> inwardly to press the sides of the book. On releasing the pressure the plate h<2> is withdrawn by a lever h<7>, and the book falls on to a delivery rack along which it is fed by an oscillating lever. (5) The machine is adapted for binding books with covers gummed all over one side by arranging on the usual cover-carrying table e a false top k<2>, Fig. 9, upon which the gummed covers are delive.red from a feeding device arranged transversely to the machine. Covers fed by hand from a table j are gummed over their inner surface bv a system of gumming-rollers, stripping-fingers j<2> being provided to guide the covers on to conveyer bands j<3>. The insertion of the covers is regulated by vertically oscillating stops j<4> operated by a cam j<5>. From the conveyer bands the covers pass between rollers k, k<1>, which corrugate them slightly, and pass between rollers k<3>, k<4> on to reciprocating fingers k<6> projecting from a plate k<7> through slots in the false table top k<2>. The plate k' is pivoted at the end of a system of links k<9> operated by the can j<5>, and moves to and fro over an inclined track k<8>, a bearing roller being provided at the forward end of the plate. Other fingers l sliding in transverse slots in the top k<2> push the gummed cover into contact with edge stops, whereupon the table is lifted, as described in the parent Specification, to apply the cover to the back of the book. This auxiliary gumming-machine is mounted on a wheeled frame which can be removed when not required.