Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1889
Specification Accepted, 16th Feb., 1889
We, JOHN JOSEPH SULLIVAN, book publisher and binder, and THOMAS WILLIAM
GRAYDON, Physician both of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in book-binding and
a machine for carrying out the same, of which the following is a full, clear and
exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part
of this specification.
Our invention relates to the method or process of binding together the leaves or
signatures of a book and attaching the back to the same, and also the means or
machinery for carrying out said process...
Our invention is more especially adapted for binding pamphlets and light books,
but may also be used with large and.heavy ones.
It consists primarily in cutting in the back edges of the leaves or signatures at the
points where they are to be attached to one another, grooves extending across them
all and filling these grooves with liquid glue or some other adhesive substance, which
when it hardens or dries, binds them altogether and serves as a substitute for stitching.
We prefer to cut these grooves with saws as producing grooves better adapted to catch
the glue and offering better service for attachment. The glue inserted in the grooves,
also serves to fasten the back or cover of the book to the leaves, though it may often
be preferable especially when a large heavy book is thus bound, to use additional glue
for fastening, which may be applied to the entire back edge of the leaves.
One form of device or inachine for carrying out our process, is illustrated in the
accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which:
Fig. 1, is a top plan view of the machine showing the table, saws and so forth.
Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 2, is a perspective view of a pile of books grooved to receive the binding glue
or cement.
A. represents the top of the table, which for convenience of attachment, may be

page_text: hung as shown at O. On this table, is a sliding rack or frame B, which consists
of a box open at top and bottom. C, is a gang of circular saws extending up
through an opening D, in the table top, and revolved on their shaft by the belt Dr.
There are of course provided on the forward side of the frame or box B, grooves.
corresponding with the saws, so that the box may be slid over the saws, the saws
passing through these grooves.
To cut the proposed grooves, a number of books or signatures are placed on the
frame or rack B, with their back edges resting on the table and at right angles to the
faces of the-saws. The rack B, is then slid along the table until it passes over the saws,
which cut grooves across the edges of the leaves.
The depth of these grooves is regulated by the distance of the saw teeth or edges
extending above the plane of the table top, and this is regulated and adjusted by the
scrow W, and slotted plate F, and set screw f. In the rear of the saws, are a series
of disks G, corresponding with the saws, whose edges extend slightly above the plane
of the table top. These disks are partly emersed in a reservoir H, below the top of
the table, containing a liquid glue or paste or any desirable adhesive substance.
Their peripheries are preferably slightly grooved. They are revolved in any convenient
manner as by the cord I, one end of which is attached to the rack B, then passed
backward over a pulley, then forward and around a drum on the axle revolving with
the disks G, and suspending the weight K, so that as the rack B, moves forward, it
revolves the disks G, and as it moves back, the weight K, restores the cord to its
position. After the rack B, has been moved over the saws, and the grooves bave
been cut across the edges of the leaves, it is pushed still farther, until it goes over
the disks G. The edges of these disks, pass into the groove, carrying and depositing
the glue, which when dried, attaches the leaves together and conipletely answers the
purpose of thread and stitching.
If preferred, instead of passing the books over the disks and applying the glue
in that way, they may be laid in a heap as shown in Fig. 2, and a wide brush
dipped in glue, passed over their back edges, depositing sufficient glue to fill the
grooves a, x.
In this way, a very large number, of books may be bound together at one
operation.
It is found desirable to mix with the glue or cement, some such substance as
glycerine, or gum arabic to make it elastic, when it hardens, and there is thereby
supplied an elastic binding rod joining all the leaves of the book together, and of
sufficient elasticity to bend or to yield to the pressure applied to the book in almost
any position of use.
Instead of the disks G, circular brushes may be used, corresponding with them
in size and location.
We do not limit ourselves to this particular mechanism for carrying out our
invention, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim, is:
1. The above described process of binding together the leaves or signatures of a
book without stitching, by cutting grooves across their edges and inserting liquid glue
or any suitable adhesive substance, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The above described process of book binding without stitching consisting in
grooving the edges or backs of the leaves inserting glue in the grooves to hold
the leaves together and attach the back, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. A book binding machine consisting of a table with a series of saws or cutters
extending above the plane of the top of the table for the purpose described, in
combination with a corresponding series of disks or brushes to convey to the grooves
cut by the saws a supply of glue or other suitable adhesive substance, substantially
as and for the purpose described,

page_text: 4. In a book binding machine a series of cutters in combination with a corre-
sponding series of grooved disks partly emersed in glue, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. A book binding table hinged at one edge and adjustable by set screws provided
with a series of saws or cutters and a corresponding series of revolving disks or
brushes extending above the plane of the table top, in combination with the sliding
frame or rack B, substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In a book binding machine consisting of a table with a series of saws or
cutters extending above its top in the manner described, a series of disks or brushes
arranged to automatically apply from a reservoir, glue to the parts or grooves cut
by the saws, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 1st day of January 1009.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents Applicants.