Improvements in and relating to Means for Applying Backing Strips to Books and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
COMPLETE OF ECIFICATIVA
Improvements in and relating to Means for Applying Backing
Strips to Books and the like.
I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN GARVER, Manufacturer, residing at Roaring Spring,
in the County of Blair, and State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in machines
for applying backing or binding strips to books, tablets, pads, and similar articles,
and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter
described, and pointed out in the appended claims.
'
The object of the invention is to provide a machine which will rapidly and
satisfactorily apply to books, tablets, pads, &c., the strip of tape, or other fabric
commonly used to reinforce the backs, or connect the covers, of such articles.
Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in which—
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a machine embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the tape forming device.
Figures 4 and 5 are detail views of certain parts of the machine, and
Figure 6 is a view illustrating the work performed by the invention.
In these drawings, the letter A designates a suitable frame and table, upon
which the operative parts of the machine are supported. B designates an endless
belt or apron arranged to revolve longitudinally around said table. C designates
a glue or paste pot or tank supported over said table. C' is a glue wheel turning
in said pot or tank, and D is a tape carrying reel or spool. The tape D' from this
reel or spool passes over the reel C₁ from which it receives on its under surface a
From this wheel the tape passes over a
proper coating of adhesive materiál.
series of carrying pulleys and forward to the front of the glue or paste pot,
being guided by a pulley or roll a into a folder or tape former E. Owing to
the length of tape which is kept unwound at all times, by reason of the several
carrying devices over which it is caused to pass, the glue or adhesive material
lias time to sufficiently set before the tape passes into the folder and is applied
to the books.
The said folding or tape-forming device comprises an elongated passage,
[-shape in cross-section and formed by a bottom piece f, a vertical back piece">
and a movable top piece f. This top-piece is designed to be capable of a vertical
movement towards and away from the bottom piece to adapt it to different
thicknesses of books, pads, or tablets, and to different widths of tape, and is also
designed to have a yielding support.
While I do not wish to limit myself to any particular means for effecting these
results, as various ways may be devised, have shown means which may be
employed, and which will now be described.
The tape former or folder is adjustably supported upon the table by means of
slotted arms F, F, engaged by set-screws f, f, thus allowing the device to be
Secured to
adjusted properly to the tape as it comes from the carrying devices.
the top piece b, are arms which are also hinged or pivoted to the side faces of
the arms F, and which are arranged to have vertical play in slots formed in the
vertical portion b'. Seated in said slots are springs g upon which said arms rest.
Springs g¹ are also placed upon said arms, adjusting screws or devices 9³ being

page_text: provided to act on said springs, and thereby depress or elevate the said top
portion to the desired adjustment, said top portion working inside. the vertical
portion b¹,
The top and bottom portions are inclined upwardly at one end, and the vertical
portion 6¹ is made to gradually widen towards the receiving end of the device, so
as to enable it to better receive the unformed tape, and gradually to form it to
the desired [-shape. The center of the guide roll or pulley a is in substantially
the same horizontal plane as the center line of the formed tape.
The upper face of the bottom portion b, and the lower face of the upper
portion are usually formed at the discharge end portion with oblique corrugations
or ribs the purpose of which is to act on the tape with a tendency to work or
draw it towards the book, or other article, as will hereinafter more fully appear.
Towards the discharge end of the tape former is journaled a vertical roll H for
the purpose of guiding and setting the tape firmly and smoothly to the back of
the article. At the discharge end portion of the former are two horizontal
rolls I, I¹ one above and one below, these rolls being journaled obliquely, so that
they not only press and set the tape firmly at the top and bottom but they also
have a tendency to draw it closely against the back of the book, or other article.
I may however omit the rolls H, and I, I¹.
Just back of the tape former are two transverse rolls J, J' between which
passes the upper portion of the endless belt or carrier, and between which pass
the books or other articles as they come from the former. These rolls not only
again set the tape, but they create a tension on the tape to constantly draw it
through the former.
K is a guide for the books or other articles, being parallel with the tape former,
and capable of adjustment towards and away from the latter to adapt the machine
to articles of different lengths or widths.
K is a spring or spring device on the bearing side of the guide, and acting to
press the books into the open side of the tape former and into the tape. k' is a
set-screw for adjusting said spring.
L is a short roll placed transversely underneath the endless apron or carrier
just forward of the point where the articles to be backed pass into the tape
former and working in a cut-away portion of the table. The purpose of this
roll is to elevate the apron to the proper degree to raise the book in proper
position to enter the tape former in a true manner. Suitable means are provided
to permit this roll to be adjusted vertically, and also in an endwise direction
to bring it into proper relation to the book.
This may be accomplished in any suitable manner. In the drawing I have
shown the roll as journaled in bearings m vertically slidable in a frame M, and
adjusted by screws m¹. The frame M is arranged to slide end wise in guides Mi.
Other mechanical devices may, however, be employed for the purpose of adjusting
this roll.
a
Underneath the glue pot or tank I usually place a fan P which causes
circulation of the heated air, around the pot or tank, and thus greatly facilitates
the drying and setting of the glue on the articles as they are delivered.
The operation is as follows:
The books, pads, tablets, or other articles to be backed, or the blanks from
which such articles are subsequently to be cut to the proper size, are placed on the
endless belt or apron B, and are carried along into the tape former, being elevated
by the roll L and guided by the guide K, the edge to be backed being embraced
by the formed tape. The spring K¹ presses the article against the tape, and the
tape is drawn against the article by the corrugations h, and also by the rolls H
and I, 1 (when the latter are employed).
The already glued and formed tape is thus caused to adhere smoothly and
firmly to the back and to top and bottom of the article adjacent to the back.
After leaving the forming device, the bound articles are carried by the endless
belt or apron between the rolls J, J', which are set in such position that the

page_text: center line between the two is in substantially the same horizontal plane as the
roll or pulley a, and the center line of the tape former.
After being delivered from these rolls, the tape is cut either by hand, or by
means of a suitable mechanical device. As the books, &c., pass under the glue
pot, the hot air therefrom dries and sets the glue.
In order to permit the books, &c., to be fed underneath the pulley or roll a, the
receiving end portion of the apron is depressed, as shown.
It will be seen that the books, &c., in passing through the tape former, aid in the
forming of the tape.
R is a short strip which is arranged to depress the apron or carrier out of
contact with the tape, in front of the tape former.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In a machine for the purpose herein described, the combination with an
endless apron or carrier, and devices for carrying the tape or backing strip and for
applying adhesive material thereto, of a tape forming device adjacent to said apron
or carrier, said tape forming device being substantially [-shape in cross section,
and a guide for directing and forcing the edge of the article to be backed into
said tape forming device and into the tape shaped thereby, substantially as
specified.
2. A machine for the purpose herein described, comprising a suitable table or
frame, an endless apron or carrier working thereon, a series of tape carrying
rollers, means for applying glue to the tape, a forming device into which the tape
is guided and which shapes it to the proper form, said forming device having a
yielding and adjustable top portion, means within said former for applying the
tape, and transverse rolls back of said forming device, substantially as specified.
Dated this ých Day of UELY LONE
18 HOLD URV 0 VHLY LO8994.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.