Page binding apparatus

• US 6,860,479 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Lillis, Eileen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deuble, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/740,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20040131448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 271/210, 271/214, 270/58.12, 412/37
• US Class Current: 270/58.12
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/60 for printing on both faces of the printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 1/12 Machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together the sheets or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• 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: B65H 39/10 Associating articles from a single source, to form, e.g. a writing-pad laminating B32B37/00, B32B38/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1749 All articles from single source only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1798 with liquid adhesive or adhesive activator applying means

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for binding pages. The apparatus includes a tray having a support surface for supporting a stack of pages. The support surface is inclined towards a lower-most corner with two side walls being provided which define a corner situated at the lower-most corner of the support surface. A vibrator is coupled to the support surface to induce vibration therein to thereby urge sheets towards the lower-most corner. A binding press is also provided which is operable by moving through a stroke length to bear upon the stack of pages to thereby bind the pages. The support surface is adjustable vertically so as to present the top page of the stack at a preset level to limit the stroke length.

Claims

1. A page binding apparatus comprising:

(a) an adhesive application station including a first and a second adhesive applicator, the first applicator being arranged to apply a first part of a two-part adhesive onto one side of a page, the second applicator being arranged to apply a second part of the two-part adhesive onto an opposite side of the page;

(b) a tray for receiving pages from the adhesive application station, the tray having;

(i) a support surface for supporting a stack of pages, the support surface being inclined towards a lower-most corner; and

,

(ii) two side walls defining a corner situated at the lower-most corner of the support surface;

(c) a vibrator coupled to the support surface to induce vibration therein to thereby urge sheets towards the lower-most corner; and

(d) a binding press operable by moving through a stroke length to bear upon the stack of pages to thereby bind the pages.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the vibrator being coupled to the lower-most corner.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the tray being suspended from a frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, the tray being suspended by dampers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibrator is a subsonic vibrator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising a mechanical drive for moving the binding press through the stroke length to thereby urge the stack of pages towards the support surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the support surface being adjustable so as to present an upper page of the stack at a preset level to limit the stroke length of the binding press.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the preset level being set to minimise the stroke length.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus including a drive system arranged so as to direct pages into the support tray bear against the two side walls for alignment of the pages within the stack.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the drive system being arranged to direct pages into the support tray at a position above the support surface, thereby causing the pages to float into position on at least one of the support surface and the stack.