Binding assembly for a printer

• US 6,827,116 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: King, Tobin Allen, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Purvis, Sue A.
• Application Number:
  US10/322,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 156/182, 156/384, 156/388, 156/385, 156/387, 156/386, 156/277, 156/563, 156/578, 118/46, 271/33, 270/52.18, 270/58.07, 270/58.08, 412/33, 412/37
• US Class Current: 156/384
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1264 by assigning post-processing resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1265 : Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 : Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 : Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 : the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00639 : Binding, stapling, folding or perforating, e.g. punching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 412/902 : Heating and pressing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1744 : Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1761 : Stacked serially
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1798 : with liquid adhesive or adhesive activator applying means

Abstract

A binding assembly for a printer includes a support chassis that is mountable to a printer, downstream of a printing zone of the printer. The support chassis defines a glue application and binding zone in which printed sheets of media are received in a feed direction. An elongate glue applicator is mounted on the chassis and is positioned substantially at right angles to the feed direction. The applicator is displaceable towards and away from the sheets of media to apply a strip of glue to a transverse edge of each of said consecutive sheets of media.

Claims

1. A binding assembly for a printer, the binding assembly comprising:

a support chassis that is mountable to a printer, downstream of a printing zone of the printer, the support chassis defining a glue application and binding zone in which printed sheets of media are received in a feed direction;

an elongate glue applicator mounted on the chassis and positioned substantially at right angles to said feed direction, the applicator being displaceable towards and away from the sheets of media to apply a strip of glue to a transverse edge of each of said consecutive sheets of media;

a collection tray having a back side;

an exit hatch positioned below the elongate glue applicator and above the collection tray, the exit hatch movable between a closed position at substantially a right angle to the feed direction, and an open position angled away from the elongate glue applicator, whereby the printed sheets of media are first supported by the exit hatch in the glue application and binding zone and then released downwardly from the glue application and binding zone, moving solely by the force of gravity, by downward movement of the exit hatch; and

a flexible foil positioned adjacent the exit hatch and angled away from the elongate glue applicator and toward the exit hatch, whereby the printed sheets of media that are released from the glue application and binding zone by downward movement of the exit hatch are directed to the back side of the collection tray and substantially parallel to the feed direction.

2. A binding assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the glue applicator includes an elongate housing with an application sponge positioned in the housing and a glue supply, the application sponge being in fluid contact with the glue supply so that glue is drawn into the sponge with a capillary action and the application sponge being positioned so that, when the glue applicator moves towards the sheets of media, the application sponge makes contact with the sheets of media to apply the glue to the sheets of media.

3. A binding assembly as claimed in claim 1, which includes a binding platen assembly mounted to the support chassis, the binding platen assembly being positioned downstream of the glue applicator to receive each sheet of media once the strip of glue has been applied to each sheet and to urge the sheets together so that the glue can act to bind the sheets.

4. A binding assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the binding platen assembly includes a reciprocating platen and a support platen, the reciprocating platen being interposed between the glue applicator and the support platen and being reciprocally displaceable towards and away from the support platen to receive consecutive sheets of media with the glue applied to the sheets and to transfer the sheets on to the support platen such that the reciprocating platen serves to urge the sheets together.