IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BINDING BOOKS WITH WIRE STAPLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to August Brehmer, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BINDING BOOKS WITH
WIRE STAPLES."
Sealed the 9th November 1877, and dated the 17th September 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said August Brehmer at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th September 1877.
AUGUST BREHMER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR BINDING BOOKS WITH WIRE STAPLES."
"
The object of my Invention is to produce a machine to insert wire staples either
singly or several simultaneously in the fold of book "signatures" while partially
or wholly open, and clinch the same; and when several " "signatures are to be
united to form one book, to insert the staples either singly or several simultaneously
through the fold of the "signature" when partially or wholly open, and also
through tapes, bands, or cloth at the back of the "signature," so that when several
of such "signatures" are successively secured to said tapes, bands, or cloth, they
shall be bound together by a strong and flexible binding.
The said Invention consists in the devices and their combinations herein-after
fully described and claimed.
In the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my
Invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; Figure 3 is a vertical section
through the line x, x, of Figure 2.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are detail views of various important parts of the
machine.
And Figure 8 is a view of a book illustrating some of the kinds of work done
by this machine.
It is adapted to insert staples singly or several simultaneously through the fold
of a book signature, partially or wholly open from the inside, and to continue
the operation on successive "signatures" without requiring that any of them shall
be removed until the required number shall have been stapled.

page_text: It is adapted to hold one or more binding tapes or bands between the back edges
of the "signatures" and the clinching mechanism, so that the staples may be
clinched upon the tapes or bands, and thus secure the signatures firmly thereto.
The table upon which the "signatures" are supported is capable of being moved
downward at or nearly at right angles to the plane of operation of the staple-
inserting devices, so that as the "signatures" of the book are multiplied, each
freshly-added "signature" will occupy the place of its predecessor during the stapling
operation, and thus the "signatures" are gradually lowered until the last " signature
is stapled.
"
The completed book or number of "signatures" may then be removed, and the
table raised to the proper height to rightly hold the first of another series of
'signatures."
STAPLE FORMING AND INSERTING.
1 is a head block secured by clamps 2 and matching 3 to the support 4 of the
frame 5 of the machine, and capable of longitudinal adjustment. This head block
is provided with a groove partially covered by removable plates 6, 7. Within this
groove is a bending fork 8, theprongs 9, 10, of which are made bevelling, as shown in
the Drawing at Figure 6, to bend the wire from its ends around a swinging mandrel,
and to enable one prong 10 to operate in connection with a die 11 at the end of the
wire-feeding channel 12 in the head block as a cutter to sever the wire. These
prongs 9, 10, may be provided with channels on their inner surfaces to receive the
staple as it is formed. This bending fork is connected at its rear end to a bar 14
by a link 13, adjustable longitudinally on said bar. The bar 14 is attached to two
arms 15 pivoted to a shaft 16 secured to the frame 5 of the machine, and it is
vibrated by two similar cams 17 on plates 18, that straddle the main shaft 19, and
receive motion through cams 20 on said main shaft, that impart a perfectly uniform
motion to it.
21 is a swinging mandril pivoted to the plate 7, its rear end being slotted and
fitting loosely over a shaft 22, secured to arms 23 pivoted to the shaft 16. These
arms 23 are vibrated to impart motion to the swing mandril 21 by two similar
cams 24 on plates 18, that impart a perfectly uniform motion to the shaft 22. The
front end of the mandril 21 is bifurcated, and the bifurcations project through two
slots in the plate 7. The reason we prefer to use these slots and bifurcations is, that
if the mandrel was in one piece, and projected through one slot, when the wire is
being fed it would have a tendency to enter the slot, and thus possibly cause
trouble, while in this construction it is met by a plane surface, which obviates this
difficulty.
25 are plates preferably removably secured by the dowel pins and holes shown to
the head block 1. These are provided with channels 26 on their inner sides, which
serve to guide the staple, and present it for insertion. Holes 27 are made through
the head block 1 at its bottom, extending from the recess, to allow any small
particles of wire or the like to fall out, and thus prevent the space between the
ends of the prongs 9, 10, of the bending fork and the plates 25 from being
clogged.
28 is a staple driver reciprocated within the bending fork 8 by a bar 29, to which
it is connected through a slide 30, adjustable to fixed positions thereon, said bar
moving in bearings. 31, and receiving a perfectly uniform motion through two
similar cams 32 on the main shaft 19.
The driver 28 is connected to the slide 30 by means of a pin 33 fitted into elon-
gated bearings in said slide, against the outer surface of which the pin is forced by
means of a spring 34, having its bearings in projections upon the slide and on the
driver. This construction provides against a too rigid pressure of the staple driver-
on the. crown of the staple, and allows it to accommodate itself to the varying
thicknesses of the paper to be stapled, the spring 34 being made stiff enough to
overcome the resistance of the staple as it pierces the paper, and yet not so stiff as
to imbed the staple crown too deeply into the paper.

page_text: The front of the head block 1, the plate 7, and support 4, are cut away at an
angle as shown, so as to enter the fold of the signature and come close to the
paper while the staple is being driven, and the plates 25 may project slightly
beyond the front of the head block, to more effectually accomplish this result.
It will be seen that the bending fork 8 with its prongs 9, 10, does not move
forward against the paper to be stapled and act as a guide and support for the staple
while it is being inserted, but that a continuation of the staple channels from the
ends of the prongs 9, 10, of the bending fork, to the point where the staple enters
the paper is formed by means of the channels 26 of the plates 25. I am thereby
enabled to form my staples farther back and away from the point of insertion and
to materially shorten the reciprocating motion of the bending fork, and to make the
ends of the latter of the desirable form described. These are important objects,
especially in machines for inserting staples in the fold of "signatures" only partially
opened.
It is desirable to have two or more head blocks 1, each provided with a bending
fork 8, swinging mandrel 21, plates 25, with channels 26, staple driver 28, and
connections described, so as to simultaneously insert all the staples required for each
signature," all being operated by bars 14, 29, shaft 22, and cams 17, 20, 24, 32,
which are common to each set of devices.
"
Each head block with its set of staple-forming and inserting devices and connec-
tions is capable of adjustment to and from the other, as the size of the book may
determine and by the means described.
In the Drawings I have only shown two head blocks to illustrate my Invention,
but any unnecessary number may be arranged side by side. When several are
employed, instead of using several wire-feeding rollers, one for each head block, I
prefer to use but one pair of feed rolls 35, by which all the wires are fed simulta-
neously and uniformly. These feed rolls are intermittingly rotated by means of a
pawl 36, receiving motion through a weighted lever 37 from a cam 88 on the main
shaft 19 of the machine, acting upon a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft of one
roller which is geared to the other.
Each bead block is provided with an additional wire channel 38, which leads the
wires to the next head block, it forming a free passage over the bending fork and
baminer for several wires.
"t
'SIGNATURE," AND TAPE-HOLDING, AND PRESENTING.
39 is a bracket journalled on a shaft 40, secured to the frame 5 of the machine,
and vibrated by similar cams 20 through plates 18, straddling the main shaft 19,
having rollers bearing upon the cams and kept in contact with the latter by a
spring 41. In this bracket, a standard 42 has bearings supporting a plate 43, upon
which a table 44 holding the signatures to be stapled loosely rests. The lower
portion of this standard has a ratchet 45 upon it, into which, pawls 46, two or more
in number, catch, preventing the plate and table from being raised by the pressure
of a spring 47, as it is lowered to give room for a fresh "signature "after the one to
be operated upon has been stapled.
The table 44 is provided with lugs upon its under side, fitting into slots in the
plate 43, which permit its longitudinal movement, and is guided by slotted standards
48, secured to a bar 49, supported upon arms 50, pivoted to the bracket 39, pro-
jections 51 from each end of the table 44 fitting into the slots of said
standards.
The standards 48 are connected at their top by a slotted bar 52, to which a
receessed cap 53 is adjustably secured, said standards and bar being partially
supported by arms 54 pivoted to the bracket 39.
Secured to the bar 52 is an open frame 55, to which a spring 56 with clasp 57 is
adjustably connected, the latter serving to hold one end of the binding tape or band
to the cap 53 forming an adjustable clamp for the same, which allows the binding
tape or band to slip as the table 44 is lowered for each fresh signature."

page_text: To the under side of the table 44 is adjustably secured a clamp 58, between which
and a spring 59 the other end of the binding tape or band is held.
As many clamps consisting of the spring clasp 56, 57, cap 53, and clamps 58,
are provided as there are head blocks 1, unless the tape or band is very wide,
when one will do, their function being to hold the binding tape or band neatly
in front of the clinching devices, and between them and the back of the
signatures."
The bar 49 is controlled by a cam 60 (see Figure 4) which runs loosely upon the
shaft 40, to which the bracket 39 is journalled. A friction clamp 61 secured to the
bracket 39 and pressing upon the periphery of the cam 60 causes it to move with
the bracket 39 if desired. On the cam 60 is a zig-zag groove 62, in which a roller
on the end of the bar 49 fits; this cam is also provided with ratchet teeth 63 upon
its periphery, into which a pawl 64 pivoted to the frame of the machine is made to
engage for the purpose and in the manner herein-after described.
The degree of pressure of the spring 47 materially affects the compactness of the
stapling, and as different kinds of paper require more or less swell in the back of
the book the pressure of the spring must be varied to correspond thereto.
Instead of a spring a lever or other device with removable or adjustable weights
may be employed.
CLINCHING.
64 are clincher stocks secured adjustably by clamps 65 and set screws 66 to the
bracket 39, corresponding in number and position to the head blocks 1.
The following parts are shown more clearly in the detail views Figure 5. Each
is provided with devices for first bending towards each other the protruding legs of
the staple, and then pressing them flat against the material through which the staples
have been inserted.
(f
The clincher stock is formed in front by a plate provided with a slot 67 counter-
sunk at its ends, which plate acts as a support for the binding tapes or bands and
signatures" against the thrust of the staple, the legs of which coming directly
opposite the countersinks are guided by them with certainty into the slot; 68 are
clincher plates of bell-crank form pivoted at 69 to a slide 70. A stud 71 is fixed to
the clincher stock around which the clincher plates turn as a common centre, yet
these plates are not attached to this stud, but are only held against it during their
partial rotation, until a shoulder 72 upon the slide comes in contact with them
when they move together. This shoulder 72 is not essential, as when the clincher
plates come together and the slide moves forward they would move with it.
In moving the slide 70 forward the clincher plates 68 are first swung around the
stud 71 until their forward ends meet, which serve to bend the legs of the staple
around towards each other and nearly flat against the material being stapled. The
continued forward motion of the slide 70 forces the clincher plates forward bodily
through the slot 67, and hard against the bent staple legs, which operate to close
them down firmly and flat against the binding tape or bands or other material
through which the staple has been inserted.
A slight groove 73 is made in the outer ends of the clincher plates 68 to prevent
the legs of the staple from slipping off to one side while under pressure. The slide 70
is provided with a tenon 74 which fits in a mortise 75 in a bar 76 working in
bearings on the bracket 39. This bar is operated by two levers 77 bifurcated at
their outer ends at 78 operated by the cam 79, which levers when the bracket 39
has been vibrated to present the "signature" to the head blocks engage with the
ends of the bar 76 when the staple has been inserted, these cams then moving it
forward to operate the clinching plates 68, and after the clinching has been com-
pleted move the clinching plates 68 back, and then release the bar 76, the bracket 39
again assuming a position ready to receive another "signature."
As many clincher stocks may be arranged side by side, and their clincher plates
all be operated by the same bar 76, as there are head blocks 1, which can be adjusted
to and from each other.

page_text: the levers 77 and bar 76 force forward the slide 70, which causes the clinching
plates 68 to partially revolve around the stud 71 until they meet, thus bending
the legs of the staple towards each other, at which time the slide 70 with the said
plates still advancing forces the bent ends of the staple legs out of the slot 67 and
snugly against the binding tape or band and "signature." The cams 32 and con-
nections then cause the driver 28 to be retracted, the cams 17 and their connections
then cause the bending fork 8 and prongs 9, 10, to be retracted, the cams 20 and
connections then cause the bracket 39 to be lowered, the operator allows the
signature" to be closed, when the machine is ready to receive another "signature"
which is operated upon as before.
<
"
As the bracket 39 is raised for the next operation, the operator holding the new
"signature" open as before, the lower half coming in contact with the under
surface of the head block 1 and support 4 causes the table 44 to yield just the
thickness of a "signature," the pawls 46 and ratchet 45 preventing its rising.
When it is found desirable to place the staples in the "signatures" and binding
tapes or bands in alternate rows, as shown at 81, Figure 8, the pawl 64 is thrown
into operation with the ratchet teeth 63, and the table 44 is caused to move
sidewise backward and forward in the manner before described.
I do not confine myself to the exact construction or arrangement of the devices
described, as many others might be adapted that would perform the same function
without departing from my Invention.
Having thus fully described the said Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The staple presenting and inserting devices (consisting of bending fork,
grooved plates, staple driver, and mandrel 21, bifurcated and moving through slots 2
of plate 7), two or more operating simultaneously, supplied with wire by only one
pair of feed rollers, and constructed so as to enter the fold of a partially opened
signature," substantially as described.
"
Second. The work supporting table which places the "signature" in the desired
position for the presentation and insertion of the staple, substantially as described.
Third. The clinching devices with the peculiar movement of the clincher plates 68
and the manner of operating them, substantially as specified.
Fourth. The clamps holding the tapes or bands above and below at the back of
the "signatures," substantially as specified.
3
Fifth. The swinging bracket 39 constructed and operating, substantially as 3
specified.
Sixth. The devices for shifting the book and tapes sidewise, causing two or more
rows of staples to be inserted, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said August Brehmer, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One 4
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
AUG BREHMER (10)
AUG. BREHMER (LS.)