Patent Publication Number: US-10780725-B2

Title: End paper arrangement and method for forming the front and back end paper of a book

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention is related to the field of bookbinding. 
     TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
     Patent application publication US 2006/0182520 A1 discloses one way of implementing the spine of a book by using a tubular structure. A front and back end paper are formed in a book. 
     A similar structure has been used for example in the Finnish patent 61429 of publishing company Kustannusyhtiö Otava. The structure presented in said Finnish patent has been developed further in the manner described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,294. A front and back end paper are also formed in these books. 
       FIG. 1  presents a method known by the applicant to implement the back and front end paper of a book by means of an end paper arrangement  10 . The left end paper sheet  1  and the right end paper sheet  2  are connected to each other through the spine area  3 . The left end paper sheet  1  forms the front end paper and the right end paper sheet  2  forms the back end paper, when the end paper arrangement  10  is fastened to a bundle of sheets fastened to each other. The end paper arrangement  10  does not contain any ready-made adhesive surfaces. Using the technique presented in  FIG. 1 , the front end paper and back end paper (which are sometimes referred to by the English professional term end paper) of a book are glued from a folded sheet, which can be freely of a similar paper tone as the contents. The front end paper and back end paper can be printed either on a large sheet or on a small sheet, but this has no relevance in terms of the selection of the paper, because the end paper arrangement does not contain an adhesive sheet. 
     When using an end paper arrangement like the one in  FIG. 1 , where the end papers are folded like the applicant&#39;s Fastbind® Endpaper, the problem is that the product in question must be in the stock of the printing house. The end paper arrangement has been made in advance elsewhere at the factory, while in the conventional bookbinding method the printing house itself also makes the front end paper and back end paper and glues it in its own process. 
       FIG. 2  presents a second method known by the applicant to implement the back and front end paper of a book by means of an end paper arrangement  11 . Unlike in the end paper arrangement the end paper arrangement  11  also contains label adhesive  4 , the label adhesive surfaces of which are protected by means of silicon coated i.e. siliconised paper  5 . The end paper arrangement  11  can optionally also contain adhesive  6  inside the fold of the left end paper sheet  1  and right end paper sheet  2 , which enables the use of the end paper arrangement  11  in an automatic bookbinding device. 
       FIG. 3  presents a third method known by the applicant to implement the back and front end paper of a book by means of an end paper arrangement  12 . Unlike in the end paper arrangement the end paper arrangement  12  contains an area  7  with no label adhesive underneath siliconised paper  5 , which area  7  enables an easier peeling off of the siliconised paper  5 . In this case, the flap  8  can optionally extend over the spine part  3 , in which case it is even easier to remove the siliconised paper  5 . 
       FIG. 4  presents the use of the end paper arrangement  11 . Fastening material  16 —most preferably adhesive such as PUR adhesive of EVA hot melt—is used for fastening a bundle  15  of sheets fastened to each other to the end paper arrangement  11 . When fastening the sheets of the bundle  15  to each other, the fastening material  16  is advantageously adhesive taken to the spine edge of the bundle  15 , such as PUR adhesive of EVA hot melt. It is clear that instead of the end paper arrangement  11 , end paper arrangement  10  or  12  can also be used. 
       FIG. 5  presents a book block  20 , which has been formed when the left end paper sheet  1  and right end paper sheet  2  are fastened to the bundle  15 . As  FIG. 5  shows, the fastening material  16  comes directly against the spine area. The free ends of the book block  20  are trimmed by cutting (in other words, at the top edge of drawing  FIG. 5 , all pages of the bundle  15  and the parts of the end paper arrangement  11  would be cut to the same level T), after which the book block is fastened to the covers of the book by gluing. Gluing is carried out most easily by removing the siliconised paper  5  from both self-adhesive sheets  4  and by  5  gluing the self-adhesive sheets  4  to the covers of the book. 
     OBJECTIVE OF INVENTION 
     End paper arrangements in accordance with prior art comprise ready-made end paper sheets. For this reason, it is no longer possible to influence the material and color options of the front and back end paper, used in the forming of a book block or a complete book that comprises a front end paper and back end paper, at the place of end use of bookbinding. This restricts the use of known end paper arrangements especially in a modern digital printing environment, which would otherwise enable practically full freedom in the choice of the paper. In this case, it is necessary to keep a large number of different end paper arrangements in stock at the place of end use, which is often considered frustrating, and it also requires storage space. 
     The objective of the invention is to enable the manufacture of a book block that comprises a front and back end paper by using the end paper arrangement in a modern digital printing environment so that the paper grade and colour of the front end paper and back end paper can be selected at the digital printing house. 
     This objective can be accomplished by means of an end paper arrangement according to the independent claim  1  and by means of a method according to the parallel independent claim  5 . 
     The dependent claims describe the preferred embodiments of the end paper arrangement and method. 
     Especially by using the method according to claim  7 , it is possible to accomplish a strong fastening between the cover and the bundle of sheets. 
     Especially by using the method according to claim  10 , it is possible to reduce the risk of the piercing devices coming loose from the sheets of the book and from the cover of the book when the sheets of the book are turned and when the covers of the book are opened or closed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An end paper arrangement for the forming of the front and back end paper of a book comprises an inner sheet and outer sheet, which are fastened on their one side against each other over at least one area so that an unfastened area remains between the fastened areas, in which unfastened area the inner sheet and outer sheet form a tunnel, advantageously for the spine of the book and/or for a movement area. On that side of the inner sheet, which is opposite to the fastened side, there is an adhesive surface on both edge parts, and there is an adhesive-free area between the adhesive surfaces. On that side of the outer sheet, which is opposite to the fastened side, there is an adhesive surface on both edge parts, and there is an adhesive-free area between the adhesive surfaces. 
     By means of the adhesive surfaces (such as two-sided self-adhesive sheets), the end paper arrangement enables that it is now possible to use the outermost sheets in a bundle of sheets tied together as the front and back end paper. In this case, it is possible to select the material, grade and color of the front and back end paper at the place of end use of bookbinding, which enables a versatile usability of the end paper arrangement in a modern digital printing environment. 
     When the adhesive surfaces on the side opposite to the fastened side of the outer sheet are protected by means of a uniform protective sheet, such as siliconised paper, it is possible to expose the adhesive surfaces with one movement of the hand, thus reducing the number of hand movements needed. 
     When each of the adhesive surfaces on the side opposite to the fastened side of the outer sheet are protected by means of their own at least one protective sheet, such as siliconised paper, it is possible to expose the adhesive surfaces one by one, which prevents unintentional adhesion. 
     In accordance with an advantageous aspect, at the tunnel of the end paper arrangement, there can be an area containing hot melt on at least one side pointing away from the tunnel (in other words either in the inner sheet or in the outer sheet or in both), which area is advantageously strip-like. In this case, the end paper arrangement can be glued easily to the covers of the book and/or to a bundle of sheets fastened to each other. 
     In the method for the forming of the front and back end paper of a book:
         a bundle of sheets are placed over the end paper arrangement and fastened to the end paper arrangement;   the bundle is glued from its first outermost sheet to the adhesive surface opposite to the fastened side of the inner sheet and from its second outermost sheet to the adhesive surface opposite to the fastened side of the inner sheet, which adhesive surface is on the other side of the adhesive-free area;   the first cover of the covers of the book is glued from its inner side to the adhesive surface opposite to the side fastened to the outer sheet, and the second cover is glued from its inner side to the adhesive surface opposite to the side fastened to the outer sheet, which adhesive surface is on the other side of the adhesive-free area.
 
In this case, the outermost sheets of the bundle form the front and back end paper of the book.
       

     In the first embodiment of the method, the sheets in the bundle are fastened to each other before placement over the end paper arrangement. The sheets are fastened most advantageously by gluing. Gluing can be carried out by means of hot melt, especially EVA hot melt or PUR adhesive. 
     In the second embodiment of the method, in addition to this or as an alternative to this, the sheets and end paper arrangement are fastened to each other after placement on top of each other by piercing by means of a number of piercing devices. In this case, the sheets are not specifically most preferably fastened to each other before placement over the end paper arrangement. The piercing devices used are for example staples. 
     The piercing devices are most advantageously fastened at the tunnel, best in a cross direction with respect to the direction  5  of the tunnel in the middle of the tunnel or otherwise in the center area. In this case, a movement area is advantageously formed for the piercing devices between the covers of the book and the end paper arrangement, enabling the movement of the piercing devices with respect to the covers of the book when the 10 sheets are browsed and when the covers of the book are opened or closed. 
     The book according to the invention is made using some method according to the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In what follows, the end paper arrangement and method are presented in more detail by means of the exemplary embodiments shown in drawings  FIGS. 6-16  wherein the drawings illustrate: 
         FIGS. 1-3  show different end paper arrangements known from prior art; 
         FIG. 4  shows the fastening of the end paper arrangement according to  FIG. 2  to a bundle of sheets fastened to each other; 
         FIG. 5  shows a book block made in accordance with  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows the first embodiment of the end paper arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows the second embodiment of the end paper arrangement according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows the fastening of the end paper arrangement according to  FIG. 7  to a bundle of sheets fastened to each other; 
         FIG. 9  shows a book block made in accordance with  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows the book block of  FIG. 9  after the trimming of edges; 
         FIG. 11  shows the book block of  FIG. 10  fastened to the covers of the book; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  show the book of  FIG. 11  when opened; and 
         FIGS. 14-16  show an alternative embodiment of the method according to the present invention, wherein the sheets and end paper arrangement are fastened to each other after placement on top of each other by piercing by means of a number of piercing devices. 
     
    
    
     The same reference numbers refer to the same technical parts in all drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 6  shows an end paper arrangement  30  for the forming of the front and back end paper of a book. The end paper arrangement  30  comprises an inner sheet  33  and an outer sheet  35 , which are fastened on their one side against each other over at least one area so that an unfastened area remains between the fastened areas, in which unfastened area the inner sheet  33  and outer sheet  35  form a tunnel  39  for the spine of the book. 
     On that side of the inner sheet  33 , which is opposite to the fastened side, there is an adhesive surface  32  on both edge  25  parts, and there is an adhesive-free area  38  between the adhesive surfaces  32 . 
     On that side of the outer sheet  35 , which is opposite to the fastened side, there is an adhesive surface  36  on both edge parts, and there is an adhesive-free area  137  between the adhesive surfaces  36 . 
     In the end paper arrangement  30 , the adhesive surfaces  36  on the side opposite to the fastened side of the outer sheet  35  are protected by means of a uniform protective sheet  37 , such as siliconised paper. 
     In end paper arrangement  40 ,  FIG. 7  which is alternative to the end paper arrangement  30  (cf.  FIG. 6 ), each of the adhesive surfaces  36  on the side opposite to the fastened side of the outer sheet  35  can be protected by means of their own at least one protective sheet  37 , such as siliconised paper. 
     At the tunnel  39 , there can be an area  99  containing hot melt on at least one side that points away from the tunnel  39 —in other words in the position indicated by  FIG. 6  or either at the adhesive-free surface  38  above the inner sheet  33  and/or at the adhesive-free surface  137  of the outer sheet  35 , which area  99  containing hot melt is advantageously strip-like. 
     Each of the siliconised papers  37 ,  31  or part of them can have a flap  41 . 
     In the method for the forming of the front and back end paper of a book:
         a bundle  15  of sheets  65  are placed over the end paper arrangement  30 ,  40  (cf.  FIG. 8 or 14 ) and fastened to the end paper arrangement  30 ,  40  (cf.  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 );   the bundle  15  is glued from its first outermost sheet to the adhesive surface  32  opposite to the fastened side of the inner sheet  33  of the end paper arrangement  30 ,  40  and from its second outermost sheet to the adhesive surface  32  opposite to the fastened side of the inner sheet  33 , which adhesive surface  32  is on the other side of the adhesive-free area  38  (cf.  FIG. 9 );   the end paper arrangement  30 ,  40  and the bundle  15  are trimmed to the same line T (cf.  FIG. 10 );   the first cover of the covers  22  of the book is glued from its  30  inner side to the adhesive surface  36  opposite to the side fastened to the outer sheet  35 , and the second cover is glued from its inner side to the adhesive surface  36  opposite to the side fastened to the outer sheet  35 , which adhesive surface  36  is on the other side of the adhesive-free area  137  (cf.  FIG. 11 );
           in which case the outermost sheets of the bundle  15  form the front end paper  51  and back end paper  52  of the book  23  (cf.  FIG. 5   13 ). In the book  23 , there is a space for movement at the spine edge of the covers  22  and bundle  15  thanks to the end paper arrangement  30 ,  40 . This prevents the tearing off of the bundle from the covers  22  and enables the manufacture of high-quality hardbound books  23  so that the front end paper  51  and back end  10  paper  52  can be printed at the place of use using a freely selectable and printable grade, material and colour.   
               

     According to the first embodiment of the method, the sheets  65  in the bundle  15  are fastened to each other before placement over the end paper arrangement  30 ,  40 . The sheets  65  are fastened to each other most advantageously by gluing, most preferably by means of hot melt such as EVA hot melt or PUR adhesive. 
     In addition to this, the sheets  65  and end paper arrangement  30 ,  40  can be fastened to each other after placement on top of each  20  other by piercing by means of a number of piercing devices  64 . 
     According to the second embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the sheets  65  in the bundle  15  are not yet fastened to each other when placed over the end paper arrangement  30 ,  40 , but the fastening to each other is only carried out after the placement of the sheets  65  and end paper arrangement  30 ,  40  on top of each other by piercing by means of a number of piercing devices  64  (see  FIG. 16 ). 
     The piercing devices  64  used are best staples. The staples are stapled most preferably in the direction of the tunnel  39 . The sheets  65  can be folded with respect to the center line of the book  63 , in which case the staples are best stapled to the folding line. 
     The piercing devices  64  are most preferably fastened at the tunnel  39 , most advantageously in a cross direction with respect  35  to the direction of the tunnel  39  in the middle of the tunnel  39  or otherwise in the center area. In this case, a movement area  66  is formed for the piercing devices  64  between the covers  22  of the book  63  and the end paper arrangement  30 ,  40 , enabling the movement of the piercing devices with respect to the covers  22  of the book when the sheets  65  are browsed and when the covers  22  of the book  63  are opened or closed. When the book  63  is browsed, the tunnel  39  reduces the stresses exerted on the adhesive bonding (label adhesive  36 ) between the cover  22  and outer sheet  35 . 
       FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15  present that the book  63  has three sheets  65 . In practice, the number of the sheets  65  can be other than 3. The book  63  can have at least two sheets  65  (for example if the book  63  is a restaurant menu), but there can be more sheets  65 , for example 3 to 20 sheets. 
     The invention should not be understood to be limited only by the below claims, but the invention is to be understood to include all their legal equivalents and the combinations of the embodiments presented. 
     REFERENCE NUMBERS USED 
     
         
           1  left end paper sheet 
           2  right end paper sheet 
           3  spine area 
           4  label adhesive 
           5  siliconised paper 
           10  end paper arrangement 
           11  end paper arrangement 
           12  end paper arrangement 
           15  bundle of sheets fastened together 
           16  fastening material, most advantageously adhesive 
           20  book block 
           21  inner part of book 
           22  cover part of book 
           23  book 
           30  end paper arrangement 
           31  siliconised paper 
           32  label adhesive 
           33  inner sheet 
           34  inner sheet 
           35  outer sheet 
           36  label adhesive 
           37  siliconised paper 
           38  adhesive-free surface of inner sheet 
           39  tunnel 
           40  end paper arrangement 
           41  flap 
           51  front end paper 
           52  back end paper 
           63  book 
           64  staple 
           65  sheet 
           66  movement area 
           99  area containing hot melt 
           137  adhesive-free surface of outer sheet&#39; 
       
    
     Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents.