Patent Publication Number: US-2010119334-A1

Title: Binding of stacked flat parts

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of German Patent Application No. 20 2008 013 619.9 filed Oct. 14, 2008 and of German Patent Application No. 10 2009 011 699.0 filed Mar. 9, 2009, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a wire comb for the binding of stacked flat parts, in particular sheets of paper, wherein the wire comb has loop-like or hairpin-like sections, which can be inserted or are inserted in perforations of the flat parts, perforations preferably provided in edge areas of the flat parts, and in wire sections arranged next to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire comb, which combine together the loop-like or hairpin-like sections, preferably on their far side. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a wire comb for binding stacked flat parts, in particular sheets of paper, and a device for the binding of stacked flat parts, in particular sheets of paper. 
     2. Discussion of Background Information 
     Blocks or stacked flat parts made of paper or the like, such as brochures, user&#39;s guides, calendars, notepads, etc., should they need to be opened easily, will be bound with wire or a so-called wire comb. 
     Notepads include, for example, a stable base sheet and cover sheet, which protect the paper content. The entire paper stack is perforated on one side or is provided with prepunched holes, into which the wire comb will be inserted and closed. The wire binding makes it possible to open or page through the paper stack without reset forces can turn up the paper. 
     According to the state of the art, there are C-shaped pre-bent wire combs, the so-called twin wires. These are positioned over the prepunched or perforated sheets of paper that are preformed with a radius. By pushing the open C-shaped wire combs together, closed ring-shaped wire combs are created, which hold the sheets of paper together. There are suitably coordinated wire comb diameters for each number of sheets or each paper stack thickness. The C shape of the wire comb restricts the paper layer thickness, since the wire comb is pushed over the paper layer. If the paper thickness varies, the result can be malfunctions in the binding process. 
     When the C-shaped wire comb is closed, it must be bent far enough over so that it does not lose paper from the closed wire ring after the wire springs back. This mainly leads to problems in the case of thicker stacks, since these wire combs must be bent far enough over so that a remaining deformation of the wire leads to a non-roundness of the wire comb. The wire binding then assumes a cross-section that is the shape of an ellipse rather than the shape of a desired, optically correct circle with a predetermined radius. 
     EP-A-1 348 571 discloses an apparatus and a method for the binding of stacked flat parts, in particular sheets of paper, with the help of a somewhat long fastener. This fastener has, in cross-section, two bent side sections, which are opened before insertion into the perforations designed in the edge sections of the flat parts and are closed after insertion. A wire comb is hereby used as a fastener, and the open fastener is inserted into the perforations with the help of an insertion device and the fastener inserted into the perforations is closed with the help of a closing device. 
     A device of the aforementioned type is usually part of a semi-automatic or fully automatic system for the production of notepads, which are held together by wire combs. In these types of systems, sheets of paper are created from a paper web through cutting. During this work step, the sheets of paper are perforated simultaneously in an edge section with the help of a punch device and are printed in a printing device, if applicable. These sheets of paper are then overlapped and collected into pads with a defined number of sheets of paper. 
     The sheets of paper are thereby stacked such that the perforated edge sections are aligned with each other. The latter is important in order to be able to insert and push the wire combs, which are still open at this time, with their one bracket through the perforations of all sheets of paper in the binding device for binding the notepads. The still open wire combs are then closed in that the spaced brackets are bent towards each other in order to form in this manner closed ring-shaped segments. 
     The wire combs in accordance with the state of the art includes a plurality of adjacent bracket or segment pairs, which are connected together through connection sections, and thus have the shape of a “caterpillar” moving diagonal to its longitudinal extension. The wire combs are prefabricated such that they are delivered with opened segments. When open, the segments of each segment pair with their free ends are spaced, whereby each segment pair and thus also the wire combs have a cross-section that is the shape of a double “C”. Due to this special shape, it is important that the wire combs in the binding device are inserted through the perforations of the sheets of paper in as precise a manner as possible in order to enable smooth binding. 
     For example, a wire comb in the form of a double “C” is known in EP-B-0 285 355 (corresponds with DE-T-38 75 643). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Based on this state of the art, the invention improves the binding of stacked flat parts, such as sheets or the like, with a wire comb. The most precise possible and simple insertion of the wire comb into the perforations of the stacked flat parts can be ensured. 
     According to embodiments of the invention, a wire comb for the binding of stacked flat parts, in particular sheets of paper, is provided. The wire comb has loop-like or hairpin-like sections, which can be inserted or are inserted in perforations of the flat parts, preferably in boundary areas of the perforations provided in the flat parts, and wire sections arranged next to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire comb. The wire sections combine together the loop-like or hairpin-like sections, preferably on their far side, which is further characterized in that the wire comb in the open state or before insertion of the loop-like or hairpin-like sections into the perforations has a cross-section such that the loop-like or hairpin-like sections are straight on their insertion side and the wire comb is bent or prerounded on the side facing the straight loop-like or hairpin-like sections, preferably in a round-bodied or partial-circle-like manner. 
     The invention is based on the idea that the wire comb for the binding of paper layers or for the binding of stacks made of perforated sheets in book form, such as notepads, calendars, operating instructions and the like, has straight, hairpin-like or loop-like sections or straight prongs or tines on the insertion side, so that the wire comb on the side facing away from the insertion side, i.e. the side facing the open roots of the wire comb, is pre-rounded and the loop-like or hairpin-like sections or tines on the insertion side are not preformed or straight, i.e. not bent. Straight receiving brackets are thereby provided as tines for the perforated paper layers or the like so that the wire comb with its straight-line, loop-like or hairpin-like sections or brackets can be inserted and then screwed into the perforated flat part stack without bent preforming. During the screwing in of the wire comb according to the invention, the layer of the mounted flat parts or paper layers adjusts itself to the wire curve on the other preformed end of the wire comb. 
     A wire comb, which manages without complicated prerounding of the flat parts or paper layers to be connected and which also compensates for deviations in the paper layer thickness and looks round or circular when the wire comb is closed, is provided by the wire comb preformed on the side facing the open roots. In this respect, the wire comb according to the invention is insensitive to deviations in the paper thickness so that thicker paper layers can also be bound using the wire comb. 
     Moreover, one embodiment of the wire comb provides that the wire comb in the open state, i.e. before insertion of the wire comb into the perforation or before closing of the wire comb, has a cross-section in the form of an open “d” or “D” or “P” or “J” and/or the straight-line, loop-like or hairpin-like sections of the wire comb are bent on their outer ends. In particular, the wire comb is made of wire, preferably metal wire or plastic wire. The wire of the wire comb can then be permanently coated or encased, and the coating can be applied to the wire by a galvanic coating and the encasing takes place, e.g., with a tube made of plastic like nylon or the like. For example, a nylon tube for the wire can thereby be transparent or non-transparent. 
     It is particularly advantageous if the wire comb on the bent or partial-circle-like preformed side is bent or curved over an angle range of equal to or greater than 180°, preferably equal to or greater than 270° (with respect to the cross-section). This results in easy handling of the wire comb upon insertion into the perforations of the flat part stack. Open, straight-line brackets are fed to the perforations of the flat part stack, which are then closed, via the open brackets or tines of the d shape or the D shape or the P shape of the J shape. Compared to C-shaped wire combs or double-C-shaped wire combs according to the state of the art, more paper can thus be inserted into the wire comb according to the invention. In this way, the paper quantity intake capacity of the wire comb increases based on the design according to the invention with straight-line, loop-like or hairpin-like sections or tines for receiving the flat part stack. 
     In accordance with another advantageous embodiment, it is provided that, in the closed state of the wire comb, the loop-like or hairpin-like sections remain straight or curved. In particular, the flat parts in the closed state of the wire comb are secured from falling out. Through bending of the open bracket or the straight-line, loop-like or hairpin-like sections or tines of the wire comb to a radius or to a straight line, the wire comb does not lose its preformed curve on the preformed side or root side facing away from the straight-line, loop-like or hairpin-like sections, since the closing procedure of the wire comb only takes place in one or two quadrants of the wire comb. 
     If a base sheet of the flat parts lies on a cover sheet during the closing of the wire comb and if the base sheet is then turned by approximately 360°, this turned base sheet takes the connection bars of the wire comb on the roots of the wire comb and hides them in the paper stack. This causes the bent wire part of the binding to be screwed into the paper and only the mechanically prefabricated or preformed part of the wire comb is visible, whereby the wire comb in the closed state with its preformed curve points outwards and is visible in the connection area of the loop-like or hairpin-like section. 
     Moreover, the wire comb can be used for the binding of stacked flat parts, in particular sheets of paper or the like. The wire comb is designed as described above. In order to avoid repetitions reference to the above explanations is expressly made. 
     Embodiments of the invention include a method for the binding of stacked flat parts, in particular sheets of paper. The method utilizes the wire comb described above in such a way that the straight-line, loop-like or hairpin-like sections of the opened or open wire comb will be or are inserted into perforations of the flat parts, preferably perforations provided in edge areas of the flat parts. The loop-like or hairpin-like sections are collected by a pivotable closing device and the closing device for closing the binding or the wire comb is pivoted on a predetermined pivot axis running parallel or collinear along on the longitudinal axis of the wire comb. 
     This ensures an easy and secure connection of the flat parts. Preferably during the pivot movement of the closing device the pivot axis mainly coincides with the pivot point or the longitudinal axis or the middle point axis of the circular or partial-circle-like preforming of the side of the preformed wire comb facing away from the straight-line loop-like or hairpin-like sections of the wire comb. 
     For this, it is also provided that the loop-like or hairpin-like sections are inserted into the perforations of the flat parts by a handling device. The handling device preferably performs a linear movement at or during the insertions of the loop-like or hairpin-like sections of the wire comb. After insertion of the entry side of the wire comb, it is possible in one embodiment that the wire comb with its preformed partial-circle-like preforming is turned in further. The layers of the flat parts adjust appropriately to the radius of the partial-circle-like preforming of the wire comb. 
     Furthermore, it is provided in a preferred further embodiment that the loop-like or hairpin-like sections of the wire comb are captured or clamped in the transition area between the straight-line sections or the prerounded sections by a closing device. In particular, after pivoting of the closing device, the wire comb is closed in a D shape or O shape or circular shape. This results in a simplified handling during the closing process of the wire comb since the wire comb is clamped into the flat parts in the transition area by means of the closing device in particular after the screwing in of the wire comb. In this manner, a simple handling is achieved during the closing process, since after clamping of the loop-like or hairpin-like sections for the closing of the wire comb the pivot movement of the closing device is executed so that the ends of the tines of the wire comb are arranged or bent in the area of the open roots. 
     Moreover, it is preferably further provided that the insertion of the wire comb and the closing of the wire comb are performed, preferably exclusively, on one single device. After providing a stack with pre-perforated flat parts to be connected, such as notepads or calendars or the like, to a stationary device, the wire comb with its straight-line insertion brackets or straight-line, loop-like or hairpin-like sections is inserted into the perforation channels under a linear movement of the corresponding handling device. The closing process is then performed through pivoting of the closing device after capturing of the free brackets or tines of the wire comb or the free sections by the closing device. This results in a secure and fast binding of the flat parts. The mechanical load of the flat parts is reduced, since the insertion procedure and the closing procedure of the wire comb is performed on the one single stationary device, without the flat parts needing to be transported and/or removed. 
     Within the framework of the invention, it is also conceivable that the handling device for the insertion of the wire comb as well as the further screwing of the wire comb into the flat parts to be connected and the closing procedure are performed at separate, sequentially arranged (processing) stations. 
     The embodiments of the invention also include an apparatus for the binding of stacked flat parts, in particular sheets of paper, using the wire comb according to the invention and described above. The apparatus includes a pivotable closing device, which is pivotable around a predetermined pivot axis running parallel or collinear along the longitudinal axis of the wire comb for the closing of the binding. The closing device has a clamping device so that the loop-like or hairpin-like sections of the wire comb, in particular in the transition area between the straight-line sections and the prerounded sections, are captured or clamped by the closing device. 
     For this, it is also provided that the clamping device has, preferably hook-shaped, projections, which engage behind the loop-like or hairpin-like sections of the wire comb from inside. The projections work together with at least one clamp part, which is or will be arranged on the outside of the sections of the wire comb, wherein in particular the projections and the at least one clamp part can be moved relative to each other. 
     Furthermore, one embodiment of the apparatus provides that, for the design of the clamping of the sections or of the tines of the wire comb, the projections are moveable linearly, preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire comb and/or the at least one clamp part can be moved diagonally, preferably perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis of the wire comb. 
     A positioning device for the alignment of the stacked flat parts is also preferably provided, wherein, in particular by the positioning device, the longitudinal axis of the open wire comb inserted into the perforations of the flat parts is aligned parallel or collinear in the pivot axis of the closing device. This simplifies the handling of the flat parts to be connected together on the apparatus. 
     A further improvement is thereby achieved in that a handling device or a wire comb insertion device for the insertion of the wire comb into the perforations of the stacked flat parts is provided. In particular, the handling device can be moved linearly during the insertion of the wire comb in to the perforations. 
     Further characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the description of the embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the included drawings. Embodiments according to the invention can fulfill individual characteristics or a combination of several characteristics. 
     Embodiments of the invention are directed to a wire comb for the binding of stacked flat parts. The wire comb includes loop-like or hairpin-like sections insertable into perforations formed in the flat parts, and wire sections arranged next to each other in a longitudinal direction that combine together the loop-like or hairpin-like sections. In an open state before insertion of the loop-like or hairpin-like sections into the perforations, the wire comb has a cross-section in which the loop-like or hairpin-like sections are straight on an insertion side and in which a side facing the straight loop-like or hairpin-like sections is bent or prerounded. 
     According to embodiments of the invention, the stacked flat part can include sheets of paper and the perforations are formed in edge areas of the sheets of paper. Further, the side facing the loop-like or hairpin-like section can be one of round-bodied or partially circular. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, in the open state, the cross-section can form an open “d” or “D” or “P” or “J” and the straight, loop-like or hairpin-like sections may be bent on their outer ends, and the wire comb may be made of wire. The wire comb can be made of metal wire or plastic wire. 
     In embodiments of the instant invention, the wire comb can be bent or curved on the bent side over an angle range of at least one of equal to or greater than 180° and equal to or greater than 270°. 
     In a closed state, the loop-like or hairpin-like sections can remain straight or curved. Further, in the closed state, the flat parts can be secured from falling out. 
     Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of binding stacked flat part with the wire comb described above. The loop-like or hairpin-like sections may be inserted into the perforations of the stacked flat part. 
     Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for the binding of stacked flat parts with the wire comb as described above. The method includes inserting straight-line, loop-like or hairpin-like sections of an opened wire comb into perforations of the flat parts, and closing the loop-like or hairpin-like sections of the opened wire comb with a pivotable closing device. A closing device for closing the wire comb is pivoted on a predetermined pivot axis running parallel or collinearly along a longitudinal axis of the wire comb. 
     According to embodiments of the invention, the loop-like or hairpin-like sections can be inserted into the perforations by a handling device, and the method may further include linearly moving the loop-like or hairpin-like sections with the handling device while inserting the loop-like or hairpin-like sections. 
     In accordance with other embodiments of the instant invention, the method can include capturing or clamping the loop-like or hairpin-like sections in a transition area between the straight-line sections and the prerounded sections with a closing device, and pivoting the closing device to form a D or O shaped cross-section. 
     According to embodiments, the insertion of the loop-like or hairpin-like section and closing of the wire comb can be performed by a single device. 
     Embodiments of the invention are directed to an apparatus for the binding of stacked flat parts, such as sheets of paper, with a wire comb as described above. The apparatus includes a pivotable closing device arranged to close the binding, the pivotable closing device being pivotable around a predetermined pivot axis running parallel to or collinear along a longitudinal axis of the wire comb, and a clamping device being structured and arranged to capture or clamp a transitional area between the loop-like or hairpin-like sections and the prerounded sections. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, the clamping device may include projections structured and arranged to engage the loop-like or hairpin-like sections from behind and from inside, and the projections can work together with at least one clamp part positionable on an outside of the loop-like or hairpin-like sections. The projections can be hook shaped, and the projections and the at least one clamp part may be movable relative to each other. 
     In accordance with embodiments, at least one of the projections are linearly moveable relative to a longitudinal axis of the wire comb and the at least one clamp part is diagonally movable relative to the longitudinal axis of the wire comb. For clamping, the projections can be movable parallel to the longitudinal axis and the at least one clamp part may be movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. 
     According to other embodiments of the instant invention, the apparatus can include a positioning device for the alignment of the stacked flat parts. The positioning device further parallelly or collinearly aligns the longitudinal axis of the open wire comb to be inserted into the perforations to the pivot axis. 
     In accordance with still yet other embodiments of the present invention, a handling device is arranged for inserting the wire comb into the perforations of the stacked flat parts. The handling device can be linearly movable during the inserting of the wire comb into the perforations. 
     Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described below, without restricting the general intent of the invention, based on an exemplary embodiment, wherein references to the figures is expressly made with regard to the disclosure of all details according to the invention that are not explained in greater detail in the text. The drawings show in: 
         FIG. 1   a ,  1   b  schematically illustrate a wire comb according to the invention from the top and a cross-sectional view from the side; 
         FIG. 2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  schematically illustrate different schematic views of a block made of sheets of paper; 
         FIG. 3   a  schematically illustrates an open wire comb form and a pre-perforated block of sheets of paper; 
         FIG. 3   b ,  3   c  each schematically illustrates a wire comb inserted or screwed into the block of paper sheets in cross-section; 
         FIG. 4   a ,  4   b  schematically illustrates a closing device; 
         FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the closing device; 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates another cross-sectional view of the closing device; 
         FIG. 7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c  each schematically illustrate a cross-sectional view of the closing device for round formation of a wire comb in several work steps and 
         FIG. 8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c  schematically illustrate different cross-sectional views of a wire comb according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice. 
     In the following figures, the same or similar types of elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numbers in order to prevent the item from needing to be reintroduced. 
       FIG. 1   a  shows a view of the top of a wire comb  10  and  FIG. 1   b  shows a cross-sectional view through the wire comb  10 . The wire comb  10  is designed like a comb and has loop-like or hairpin-like sections designed like prongs or tines  12  on the insertion side, which lie or are arranged next to each other. The tines  12  are closed at their tips  14  and open at their roots  16  on the top side of the wire comb  10 . The roots  16  of the wire comb  10  are connected through intermediate, straight wire lengths  18 . 
     As can be seen in the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 1   b , the tines  12  on the insertion side are straight, i.e. not bent, and then the wire comb  10  transitions into a preformed, bent shape, which is preformed in an appropriately partial-circle-like manner like a bulge above the straight-line tines  12 . On the front side or on the end of the tines  12 , the tips  14  have a small, hook-shaped bend so that, upon insertion of the tines  12  into the perforations of flat parts, a simple, linear insertion of the tines is enabled. 
     Furthermore, it can be seen in the cross-sectional representation in  FIG. 1   b  that the wire comb in cross-section is open between the wire lengths  18  and the straight tines  12 , wherein the wire comb  10  is rounded or bent over an angle area of e.g. 270° on the side facing away from the tips  14 , i.e. on the side of the roots  16 . After insertion of the hairpin-like, bent and adjacent tines  12  into the perforations of flat parts, the straight tines  12  available as short, open brackets for the formation of a binding are bent to a radius or also to a straight line. In this manner, the wire comb  10  does not lose its preformed (partial-circle-like) curve on its back side  19 , since the closing procedure takes place in the open quadrants  21  of the wire comb  10 . 
       FIG. 2   a  shows a view of the top of a stack or block  22  made up of several paper sheets  24 . The paper sheets  24  (see  2   c ) are arranged stacked on top of each other and have perforation holes  25  in the upper edge area. In the case of the block-wise or stack-wise arrangement of the paper sheets  24 , a type of channel is formed, through which the non-bent, i.e. straight, tines  12  of the wire comb  10  are inserted with a linear movement of the wire comb  10  (see  FIG. 2   c ). 
       FIG. 2   b  shows a cross-section through the block  22  with several paper sheets  24 .  FIG. 2   c  shows the block  22  with a wire comb  10  inserted or pushed into the perforations holes  25 . 
       FIG. 3   a  shows a cross-section of a block  22  of stacked paper sheets  24 . A pre-perforated base sheet  26  and a pre-perforated cover sheet  27  are also hereby arranged on the left side of the block  22 . For the insertion of the wire comb  10  with its straight-line tines  12  into the perforation holes  25 , it is not required to design the block  22  with a curve in order to form a curved channel from perforation holes  25 . 
     The block  22  thus no longer needs to be bent or otherwise mechanically processed or preformed upon insertion of the wire comb  10  in order to enable an insertion of the tines  12 . 
     The left part of  FIG. 3   a  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of wire comb  10 , wherein quadrant fields I and II are drawn in for better orientation during the handling of the wire comb  10 . After a linear insertion movement of the wire comb into the perforation holes  25 , the wire comb  10  is screwed in further, as shown in  FIG. 3   b . The paper sheets  24  of the block  22  hereby adjust to the radius of the wire comb  10 . The tines  12  of the wire comb  10  are then bent further so that the tips  14  of the tines  12  are arranged between roots  16  of the wire comb  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3   c . When the wire comb  10  is closed, its cross-section is radius-like so that the block  22  with the paper sheets  24  cannot fall out. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the straight-line tines  12  are not bent during the closing procedure so that when the tips  14  approach the roots  16  of the wire comb  10  it has a straight section on one side so that the cross-section of the closed wire comb  10  is shaped like a D. 
       FIG. 3   c  shows the closed state of the wire comb  10 . The base sheet  26  is then turned 360° after the closing of the wire comb  10  so that the base sheet  26  takes the connection bars or the wire lengths  18  (see  FIG. 1   b ) of the wire comb  10  so the connection bars or wire lengths  18  now lie covered in the paper stack between the paper sheets and the base sheet  26 . This causes the bent part of the bonding to be screwed into the paper and into the block  22  during the closing of the wire comb  10  and only the prerounded or preformed partial-circle-like part of the wire comb  10  with its back side  19  is or will be visible. 
       FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  are both schematic views of a closing device  30 .  FIG. 4   a  shows the receiving position of the closing device  30  for receiving the open wire comb  10  inserted into the block  22 .  FIG. 4   b  shows the working position of the pivot device  30  when the wire comb  10  is clamped. 
     In  FIG. 4   a , the unshaped and open wire comb  10  are hung in with receiving rails (not shown here) (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 , reference numbers  90 ,  95 ). The closing device  30  has an activation lever  32 , which is connected with two eccentric shafts  60 . The eccentric shaft  60  is operatively connected with a closing rail  50  on the top side (see  FIG. 5 ). The closing rail  50  is arranged on a mounting plate  55 , and Z-shaped bending anvils  40 , which receive the wire comb  10 , engage behind the loop-like sections of the wire comb  10  from the inside through a linear sliding of the closing device  30  onto the laterally arranged pins  34 ,  36  on the plates  80 ,  82 . 
     The plates  80 ,  82  are stationary with the pins  34 ,  36  and form the attachment points of the closing device  30  that can be moved linearly on the pins  34 ,  36  or its mounting plate  55 . Through the linear shifting of the closing device  30 , the bending anvils  40  engage behind the hairpin-like or loop-like, bent and adjacent sections or tines  12  in the transition area between the partial-circle-like, pre-bent part and the linear area of the hairpin-like, bent and adjacent tines  12  (see  FIG. 4   b ). 
     Furthermore, the closing rail  50  is pushed against the tines of the wire comb  10  from the outside (see  FIG. 5 ) through activation of the activation lever  32  via the eccentric shaft  60  so that upon execution of a pivot movement of the closing device  30  additionally swivel mounted on the pins  34 ,  36 , the wire comb  10  is closed through a binding by the wire comb. 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-section through the closing device  30  in  FIG. 4   b.    
     The closing device  30  can be pivoted around a pivot axis  38 , which coincides collinearly with the center axis of the pins  34 ,  36 . Furthermore, the pivot axis  38  is collinear to the central axis or longitudinal axis of the wire comb  10 . In  FIG. 1   b , the central axis of the wire comb  10  is provided with reference number  11 . The establishment of a binding means that the wire comb  10  is closed so that an individual sheet cannot be removed or cannot by itself fall out of the bound paper stack  24  from wire comb  10 . 
     As can be seen in the cross-sectional representations in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the block  22  together with the wire comb  10  is hung in between the plates  80 ,  82  from both sides via receiving rails  90 ,  95 , wherein the block  22  hangs freely in the wire comb  10 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-section view of the working position, in which the closing rail  50  bends the wire comb  10  over the eccentric shaft  60  on the bending anvil  40 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a cross-section of a position, in which the wire comb  10  is closed, so that the wire comb  10  has a straight, i.e. non-bent, bracket. 
       FIGS. 7   a  through  7   c  show cross-sections of the working steps to close the wire comb  10  designed with straight tines into a circular O shape. The closing rail  50  of the closing device  30  is hereby pivoted over the pivot point or the central axis  11  of the wire comb center or the wire comb  10  in several steps (see  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c ) so that an approximately circular cross-section gradually results. 
       FIG. 8   a  simultaneously shows a cross-section of the wire comb  10  with the wire bracket or tine  12  closed to a straight line or opened. The straight-line tine  12  is hereby bent such that the tips  14  are arranged between the roots  16  or between the wire lengths  18 . 
       FIG. 8   b  shows the wire comb  10  with straight tines  12  or wire brackets after turning of the base sheet  26  by 360°. The tines  12  are hereby arranged inside the block  22  so that on the outside the wire comb  10  with its partial-circle-like, preformed back side  19  is visible. 
       FIG. 8   c  shows a cross-section of the wire comb  10  with a preformed partial-circle-like shape over more than 270° of the circular shape. The central axis  11  corresponds with the longitudinal axis of the wire comb  10  so that, on the open side with the straight tines  12 , the perforations holes  25  of flat parts or paper sheets  24  are mounted on the tines  12 . 
     Through the use of the wire comb  10  according to the invention in the open state with the straight-line tines  12  on the insertion side, it is possible to easily insert and then turn the straight brackets or tines  12  of the wire comb  10  into a squarely aligned block  22 . The wire comb  10  is then closed curved or straight. 
     All named characteristics, including those taken from the drawings alone, and individual characteristics, which are disclosed in combination with other characteristics, are considered alone and in combination as important to the invention. Embodiments according to the invention can be fulfilled through individual characteristics or a combination of several characteristics. 
     LIST OF REFERENCES 
     
         
         
           
               10  Wire comb 
               11  Central axis 
               12  Tines 
               14  Tips 
               16  Root 
               18  Wire length 
               19  Back side 
               21  Quadrant 
               22  Block 
               24  Paper sheets 
               25  Perforation holes 
               26  Base sheet 
               27  Cover sheet 
               30  Closing device 
               32  Activation lever 
               34  Pin 
               36  Pin 
               38  Pivot axis 
               40  Bending anvil 
               50  Closing rail 
               55  Mounting plate 
               60  Eccentric shaft 
               80  Plate 
               82  Plate 
               90  Receiving rail 
               95  Receiving rail