IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORMING, INSERTING, AND CLINCHING WIRE STAPLES IN THE BACKS OF BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN THE SEWING OF BOOKS WITH WIRE STAPLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORMING, INSERTING, AND CLINCHING
WIRE STAPLES IN THE BACKS OF BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN THE
SEWING OF BOOKS WITH WIRE STAPLES." A communication from abroad by
Henry Renno Heyl, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th June 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORMING,
Southampton Buildings, London.
INSERTING, AND CLINCHING WIRE STAPLES IN THE BACKS OF BOOKS AND OTHER
ARTICLES, AND IN THE SEWING OF BOOKS WITH WIRE STAPLES." A communication.
This Invention consists in so arranging supporting guides for the book that the
latter will be passed vertically to receive the staple whereby the book will have
an even and square back, and the operation of feeding into and through the machine
will be facilitated. One or both of the guides will be movable to operate and close
upon the book to be stapled, always before the stapling mechanism commences to
perform its work, and to open and release the book only after all of the staples for
each book are inserted.
It also consists in the combination with staple forming and driving mechanism
of rapidly rotating drills for piercing holes in the paper or other material for the
reception of the staples.
Also in the combination with staple inserting mechanism of clinchers for bending
the limbs of the staple flat against the book or other article.
Also in feed rollers, some of which rotate intermittently and others continuously,
to pass the book or other article along space by space to receive its staples and
when completed to carry it out of the machine to permit other books or articles to
follow it. One or more pairs of feed rollers having intermittent rotary motion, and
one or more pairs of feed rollers having continuous rotary motion, are arranged to
operate in combination, so that while the intermittently rotating feed rollers are
carrying the book space after space, the continuously rotating feed rollers will not

page_text: engage with the book to affect its movements, and when the intermittently rotating
feed rollers shall release the book the continuously rotating feed rollers will engage
with it and carry it out of the way.
It also consists in the combination with the staple clinchers of a plate having a
narrow slot with countersunk enlargements for directing the limbs of the staple
during the clinching operation.
Also in a swinging bracket carrying revolving drills and staple driving devices
in combination with auxiliary mechanism.
Also in the construction of the wire cutters in the form of discs with bevilled
cutting edges.
Also in sewing a book with independent wire staples driven from the inside
outward through the fold of the sheets or signatures and through or around flexible
connecting bands and clinched on the outside of said bands, whereby the book will
be exceedingly firm and flexible, and may be opened flat to its full extent without
breaking.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said William Robert Lake in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th January 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORMING,
INSERTING, AND CLINCHING WIRE STAPLES IN THE BACKS OF BOOKS AND OTHER
ARTICLES, AND IN THE SEWING OF BOOKS WITH WIRE STAPLES." A communica-
tion from abroad by Henry Renno Heyl, of Philadelphia, Pensylvania, United
States of America.
This machinery, which has for its primary object the stitching or stapling of
pamphlets or small books, is so organised that the principal parts of the mechanism
operate horizontally, so that the sheets or "signatures" composing the pamphlet or
book pack may be placed in the machine and rest on their back edges. I thereby
ensure an even and square back to the pamphlet and facilitate the operation of
feeding it into and through the machine.
In the accompanying Drawing-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine constructed according to this Inven-
tion.
Figure 2 is a perspective view looking at the front of the perforating mechanism.
Figure 3 is a similar view looking at the rear of the wire feeding, staple forming,
inserting, and clinching mechanism.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the stapling mechanism.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are views of the work guiding plates and feeding rollers.
Figure 8 shews the clinching mechanismi detached.
Figure 9 shews face and sectional views of the guard plate through which the
clinching mechanism operates.
Figure 10 shew views of a modification of the wire cutting apparatus.
Figure 11 is a view of the bending mandrel and nipper detached.
Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 show improvements in sewed books and details
thereof, Figure 15 being a section on the line x, x*, Figure 14, which is a face view
of an open book with my Invention applied thereto.
I place the main shaft A in horizontal bearings across the back of the bed or
table F and support upon it a swinging bracket B carrying in its forward end the
perforating mechanism, the bending fork O, and the driving hammer 1, all of
which devices are operated by a set of cams also placed upon the main shaft, and
between the bearings x, x, of the swinging bracket B; the forming mandrel t
(which with the bending fork O constitutes the bending or staple-forming
imechanism) and the clinching mechanism are supported upon the bed or table near
the front of the machine. Between the said perforating and bending or forming

page_text: mechanism and the staple-clinching mechanism upright plates G, Y, are placed to
constitute a horizontal guideway in which the several leaves, sheets, or signatures
to be stitched or stapled are placed in a vertical position resting on their back
edges upon the table ready to receive the first staple. By thus supporting the.
leaves, sheets, or signatures constituting the book pack they will be settled upon
the table by their gravity, so that their back edges will all be even and the per-
forations for the staples will be made in lines parallel with these back edges.
The rear guide plate Y is fixed in the proper position upon the table relative to
the staple forming and inserting mechanisms, and the front guide plate G is fixed
to a slide 10, which is moved toward and from the guide plate Y by means of a
toggle lever D, connecting it with a head 19, which is adjusted by a thumb screw T
to set the guide plates to suit the thickness of the book or pamphlet to be stapled.
The work-feeding mechanism consists of two feeding rollers I¹, J', (see Figures
5, 6, and 7,) which are journalled on vertical shafts fixed to the bed and protrude
through the guide plate Y, they are rotated intermittently by pinions 11, which
engage with a toothed wheel 9 moved by a ratchet wheel 12 attached to its lower
face and a pawl 13, actuated by a rod 14 adjustably connected with a lever 15
linked to the reciprocating slider 16, which actuates the bending fork, as will be
described. The feeding roller H is driven continuously by a belt 17 from the
main shaft. The companion feed rollers I, J, and, H operate as follows:- Those
marked I and J are journalled on pins fixed in the slide 10, and protrude through
the guide plate G, and partake of all of its movements imparted by the togglo
lever D, and the feed roller H is hung in the end of a bell-crank lever 18, linked
to said toggle lever D. The feed rollers H¹, J', and I are provided with rubber tyres
to ensure more perfect frictional contact with the book pack. The slide 10 is
moved forward and back by the toggle lever D, which is connected to a rod R,
reciprocated by the rock shaft 20.
In the position of this feeding mechanism shewn in Figure 6, which is that
occupied by it during the operation of setting and clinching staples, the slide 10
has been moved forward so as to cause the feeding rollers I, I, and J, J, to firmly
compress the book between them.
As the rollers I¹ and J¹ are rotated intermittently the book will be fed forward
a proper distance and come to a state of rest, when a staple will be inserted through
it. The next movement of the feed rollers will carry the book onward a proper
distance, and this operation will be continued as long as the feed rollers are in the
position shewn in Figures 5 and 6. The position of the feeding mechanism (shewn
in Figure 7) is that occupied by it when a book pack has just been inserted and
the book just stapled is leaving the machine. The slide 10 has been moved back
by the toggle lever D, which at the same time has carried the roller H forward so
as to press the stapled book between it and the constantly revolving roller H¹, the
contact of the two propelling the book out of the machine.
Thus the feeding rollers I, I', and J, J¹, are brought into position to press the
book between them, and are rotated intermittingly between the times that the
successive staples are inserted into the book to feed the book along space by space
until the desired number of staples has been inserted in it. Then the rolls are
separated to release the stapled book, and the feed roller H is carried forward to
press the said book between it and the constantly revolving feed roller H', and
deliver it from the machine. During this operation the pack of sheets or signatures
for a new book inserted between the guide plates G, Y, which now stand apart
and present a space considerably greater than the thickness of the book pack
which they have been adjusted to receive.
Thus the entire operation of feeding the book pack for the spacing of the staples,
and for carrying the book out of the machine when the stapling has been con pleted,
is performed by these feed rollers, leaving only for the operator the work of inserting
the book pack in its first position between the guides G, Y. This mechanism
renders the machine more efficient and rapid than if the entire movement of the
book had to be managed by the hand, while the stapling is more uniform and neat.

page_text: The perforating mechanism Figure 2 consists of a pair of rotating drills, whose
spindles or stocks a, a, are supported in a reciprocating carrier K. The rotary as
well as the reciprocating movements of these drills are accomplished simultaneously,
their reciprocation being effected through the medium of the grooved cam 33 in
which runs a roller 36 on a lever V, which latter is connected by a rod Z with a bell-
crank L, which reciprocates the carrier K in its longitudinal bearings in the forward
end of the swinging bracket B; and their rotation is effected through a rack b,
reciprocated by the connecting rod Z meshing into a small pinion j which is joined
to the toothed wheel U, from which by direct gearing with small pinions on each
drill stock or spindle the latter are rotated. The toothed wheel U has such a width
of face that as the drill stocks or spindles are reciprocated their pinions are not
disengaged from the teeth of the said wheel U.
This combination of the rack and pinions gives to the drills a high rotary speed at
the same time that through the medium of the bell-crank lever L the drill stock carrier
K is moved forward forcing the drills through the book pack that stands between
the guide plates G, Y. The reverse motion of the lever V also reverses the drills
and draws back the drill stock carrier, which gives place to the stapling mechanism
to insert the staple in the holes just made by the drills and drive it into the book
pack. By using rotating drills instead of puncturing awls a much smaller drill
can be used, as it has but a comparatively small thrust pressure to bear, and the
drill will always make a straight hole, whereas a non-rotating awl will follow any
inclination of its point should it be ever so slightly bent or not centrally ground.
One
The wire feeding mechanism consists of two wheels with polished surfaces, one of
which 22 is shown in Figure 1. These wheels are hung on vertical shafts upon
which are fixed gear wheels 23 so meshing together as to revolve in unison.
of the vertical shafts is driven intermittingly by means of a ratchet wheel 46 and
a pawl, which pawl is operated by a lever connected with the wheel 24 by an
arm 25. The wire w is directed through a guiding eye and between these feeding
wheels, thence through a straightening plate 39, Figure 3, through the cutter
block C and between the cutters, and thence through a slot in the plate 6, and
beyond the forming mandrel where it rests in an eye u of a nipper i across the
face of the forming mandrel t. A proper length of wire to form a staple is fed
forward to this position at each movement of the feed wheels.
The cutting mechanism, Figure 3, consists of a plate 8 fixed to the front end of
the cutter block C, and a cutter blade 7 depending from a stock 3 pivoted so as to
vibrate upon the end of the cutter block C. The wire passes through a perforation
in the plate 8 and lies just in front of the blade l, which is pressed against it to
sever the wire by the swinging bracket B striking a lug P projecting from the
blade stock 3, and thus rocking it upon its pivot as the said bracket rises to present
the perforating awls in operative position. The stapling mechanism consists of a
forming mandrel, a bending fork, a driver, and clinchers, all of which will be
separately herein-after described.
When raised the swinging bracket B supports the staple bending fork O in opera-
tive position with respect to the forming mandrel t, which is held in a head block 52
rising from the table of the machine, and is provided with a spring seated nipper i,
the latter has an eye u which receives the staple length of wire and prevents it
dropping or jumping when it is cut off, and also holds it in proper position to be
operated upon to form a staple.
The bending fork O, as shewn, is a long narrow metal plate furrowed to form
longitudinal grooves 2 in its inner side walls. It has a forked end which as it
moves forward strikes the wire which is supported between the extreme ends of
the nipper and forming mandrel t, as in Figure 11, and bends it into the form
of a staple around the forming mandrel t, the legs of said staple lying in the
longitudinal grooves 2 of the bending fork. This bending fork is at the end of
a slider 16 and lies directly over the reciprocating drill stock carrier, and as close
thereto as is possible so as to avoid any unnecessary up-and-down motion of the
swinging bracket B. The slider 16 is mortised so as to slide upon the shaft A,

page_text: and has a reciprocating motion imparted to it by means of the cam 48, which has a
grooved face 37 which receives a friction roller 47. When the drills have perforated
the book and the bending fork has formed the wire into a staple around the
mandrelt the swinging bracket drops to the position shewn in Figure 4. The
staple as it is formed lies in the grooves on the inner sides of the bending fork O,
and as the latter is moved down with the swinging bracket B it strips the staple
from the end of the forming mandril, the spring seated nipper i giving way to
permit its passage. The staple now lies within the end of the bending fork in a
position to be inserted into the book pack. The bending fork O continues to move
forward until its end reaches the book pack, by which time the swinging bracket
B is down to its lowest position, and the staple legs stand close to the holes in the
book ready to be driven.
The driving mechanism consists of a hammer 1 guided in the grooves 2 of the
bending fork and operated by a cam 48. It strikes the staple from behind and
forces it through the book pack, the projecting legs of the staple passing through
an opening 44 in the guard plate N, Figure 9, which is a portion of the front
guide G. This opening in the guard plate N is a narrow slot 44 with two counter-
sunk enlargements at points opposite to the entrance of the staple legs and
through which the said legs pass, and as these staple legs are bent around toward
each other and flat against the book the narrow slot between the countersunk
enlargements serve as a guide to direct the wires in a straight line toward each
other.
The clinching mechanism which bends the projecting legs of the staple flat
against the book is formed of two shafts S lying close to each other, and having
about a quarter-turn motion in opposite directions as if they were geared together.
These shafts are actuated by a tappet 27 on the face of the wheel 24, which rocks
a lever 28 connected by means of rods 43 with the cranks 53 on the lower ends of
the shafts. The upper ends of these shafts are milled off to allow them to pass up
behind the slotted guard plate N, while at the same time their centres are directly
under and in line with the face of the said plate N.
Two thin clincher plates e, e,
are mounted on the top ends of these shafts, but they might be a part of the
shafts were it not that they need to be of hardened steel, while the rest of the
clincher shafts are made preferably of untempered metal. The corners r,, Figure 6,
of these clincher plates are directly on the centre line of the shafts S, S, and the
corners 8, 8, are on the periphery line of the shafts. The diameters of the shafts
are of such dimensions that the corners r, r, shall be only a little wider apart than
the width of the staples, so that as the legs of the staple project through the
book and enter the slotted plate N they may also pass between the clincher plates,
bear against their inclined faces, and be slightly turned inward, as shewn in
Figure 5.
To properly clinch the staple legs it is very important that the turning point of
the clinchers should be as close behind the staple legs as practicable, and at the
same time close to the face of the book pack, and to make such clinchers there is
evidently no room to place pivots upon which to turn them at the centre points ", r.
Therefore to fully avail myself of this true form of clincher I employ the extended
shafts S, S, with cranks at their lower ends to partially rotate them, and with their
upper ends so worked out as to accomodate themselves to the interfering slotted
guide plate N, and at the same time to have the points of contact with the staple
legs of the proper form, and in that close relation, as described, which shall make
the most perfect clinch of the staple legs.
To provide economical cutters for the wire, such as need seldom be sharpened, I
employ circular steel discs 40, 41, one of which, 41, has a bevel-edged hole through
it (see Figure 10), while the other, 40, is beveled around its outer edge.
It is obvious that when these discs are placed in supports so that the one shall
pass across the face of the other any wire projecting through the hole in the ono
disc would be cut off by the beveled edge of the other in passing across the face of
it. These small discs are set in supports so that they may be turned at pleasure to

page_text: present a fresh cutting edge, and until the entire circumference is dulled they need
not be removed.
The machine in a state of rest stands with its swinging bracket B in its highest
position, the drills being in position to perforate the book pack and the bending
fork in position to form a staple. It is set in motion by depressing the treadle X,
which rocking the shaft 20 draws back the locking bar 29, so as to allow the
locking disc 30 to revolve and the spring seated pawl 34 carried by it to engage
with a ratchet wheel 32, which is fast on the hollow shaft 31 supporting the driving
wheel 5, thus coupling it with the main shaft A. This movement through the
rod R operates the toggle lever D, moves the guide plate G forward, and closes the
feed rollers I and J upon the book pack W, which is supposed to have been fed to
the machine, as seen in Figure 6.
At cach revolution of the main shaft the following operations are effected :-The
roller 36 running in the cam groove 33 moves the lever V, thus actuating the
mechanism for rotating the perforating awls and reciprocating them forward, guided
by the holes in the plate n through the book pack and retracts them. The bending
fork is simultaneously moved forward by the slot 37 in the cam 48 a distance
sufficient for it to engage the wire and bend it around the forming mandrel t,
thus forming it into a staple, the legs of which rest in the longitudinal grooves of
the bending fork O. The swinging bracket now descends by gravity, the cam Q
releasing the supporting lever 35 until it reaches the limit of this movement and
supports the forming mandrel, as in Figure 4, in the plane which was occupied by
the drills, the bending fork drawing the staple away from between the forming
mandrelt and the spring nipper i and carrying the staple with it as descending
and still moving forward it abuts against and compresses the book pack. The
hammer 1 through its stock 38 and the cam 48 is then projected to force the
staple legs through the perforations in the book. The clinching mechanism is then
operated by the tappet 27 on the wheel 24 to turn said legs down on to the book
while the hammer still rests upon the staple head. The bending fork and hammer
are then withdrawn, during which movement the wheel 24, through the arm 25,
rotates the wire feed wheels 22 and protrudes a staple length of wire through the
cutter block C and the eye u of the nipper i and between it and the mandrel t, as
in Figure 3. The cam then depresses the lever 35 and carries the swinging arm
B to its highest position, thus raising the bending fork O and the perforating awls
into the proper positions for a repetition of the operation. In this upward movement
of the swinging arm a plate 50 which is carried near its front end engages with the
projection 51 on the forming mandrel and raises it slightly, which movement carries
the piece of wire lying in the eye of the nipper i snugly against the faces 7 and 4
of the head block 52, and forces the mandrel and nipper to slightly open and slide
over the wire until it rests near the end of the mandrel and between it and the
nipper, as in Figure 11, in which position the wire is ready to be bent into a staple.
The end of the swinging arm in its upward movement also strikes the lug P and
operates the cutters to sever the wire. The shaft A will thus have made one
revolution and brought the slot of the locking disc 30 into a position to allow the
locking bar 29 to move outward, and the shaft 20 to be rocked back by the weight
49, thus opening the guides G, Y, and rollers I, I', and J, J, and closing the roller H
upon the book, as in Figure 7, in which position of the parts the stapled book E will
be delivered out of the machine, while a new book pack W may be introduced and
tle operation repeated. The throw of the wire feed wheels may be varied and the
position of the cutter block C adjusted by the screw to make staples of different sizes.
I may provide the machine with registering mechanism M of any approved con-
struction, its driving wheel being geared to the wire feeding mechanism whereby
the length of wire consumed may be accurately determined.
By increasing the dimensions of the feeding rollers and in some cases their
number so that their peripheries shall have a considerable surface length the guide
plates may be dispensed with. In this arrangement the feeding rollers will receive
the book between them and form efficient guides.

page_text: The wire guiding eye u might be formed in the face of the forming mandrel, or
partly in it and partly in the nipper i.
Referring to Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15, s represents wire staples which are driven
from the inside outward through the fold of the sheets or signatures t of the book,
and through or around flexible connecting bands u and clinched on the outside of
the said bands. These bands u are to be attached to the insides of the cover of
the books whereby the folds or body of the book are firmly attached to the cover;
some of the advantages of the manner of binding are that the work is flat band
work, and consequently perfectly flexible and secure and permits the book to be
> opened to its full extent without breaking. Moreover, each staple is independent
of the others, and therefore the sheets are not so liable to become loose in thread
sewing.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim-
First. The combination with staple-inserting mechanism and a work supporting
table of work guides standing at right angles to said table and forming a way in
which the book pack may rest upon its back or edge by gravity on said table to
receive the staple, as above described.
Second. The combination with perforating mechanism and a work supporting
table of work guides standing at right angles to said table, and forming a way
in which the sheets or "signatures" of a book may so rest by gravity on the table as
to be perforated in lines parallel with its edges, as above described.
Third. The combination with mechanism for inserting and clinching staples in
the backs of books or similar articles of reciprocating rotating drills for perforating
the paper or other material to receive the staples, as described.
Fourth. The combination with staple inserting and clinching mechanism and
a work supporting table of two guides movable to fixed positions with relation
to each other to adjust the width of the guideway they form, as above described.
Fifth. The combination with book stapling mechanism of a pair or pairs of com-
pressing feed rollers, operating intermittently, or of a pair or pairs of feed
rollers, operating continuously, or of a pair or pairs of feed rollers having intermittent
rotary motion, and a pair or pairs of feed rollers having continuous rotary motion,
as above described and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The combination with staple-inserting mechanism of a pair of clinchers,
consisting of two rocking shafts lying parallel to each other, and so shaped at their
extremities as to clear the guide plate and provide clinching plates to engage with
and bend the staple legs toward each other against the book or other article through
which the staples have been driven, as above described.
Seventh. The guide plate provided with a slot enlarged at its extremities in
combination with the staple-inserting and clinching mechanism, whereby the staple
legs as they are inserted are guided in the saine plancs to the clinchers, and in
clinching are so guided as to be turned down in straight lines towards each other, as
above described.
Eighth. The staple-clinching mechanism, consisting of two plates so operating as
to stand apart at proper angles to partially bend the staple legs as they are forced
through the work, and then to be swung towards the work upon centres which are
slightly outside of the points of protrusion of the staple legs through the work,
whereby the clinching of the said legs is effected by simple pressure, as above
described.
Ninth. The staple forming and presenting mechanism, consisting of a forming
mandril and an internally grooved bending fork, so operating as to form and
deposit the staple within the internal grooves of the fork, and to strip it from the
forming mandrel and carry it into position to be inserted into the work, as above
described.
Tenth. The forming mandrel in combination with the nipper, with or without
the wire guiding eye, and so operated as to be moved over the staple length of

page_text: wire until the said wire rests at a point near the extremity of the mandrel, where
it is clamped by the nipper in position to be operated upon by the bending fork, as
above described.
Eleventh. The combination with staple clinching mechanism of the swinging
bracket carrying the perforating mechanism, and the staple forming and inserting
mechanism, as above described.
Twelfth. The combination of the slide toggle rock shaft and screw, as above
described and for the purposes specified.
Thirteenth. The combination of rollers, bell crank, and toggle lever, as above
described and for the purposes specified.
Fourteenth. The combination of the bell crank, slider rack, pinion wheel, and
drill spindles, as above described and for the purposes specified.
Fifteenth. The combination of a swinging bracket carrying the drill spindles and
gear wheels for rotating them with a reciprocating rack for actuating the spindle
gear wheels, as above described.
Sixteenth. A book secured with independent wire staples driven from the inside
signatures," and through or around
outward through the fold of the sheets or
flexible connecting bands, and clinched on the outside of said bands, as above set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)