The invention relates to a device for pressing a book casing onto adhesive-coated outer surfaces of a book block to be provided with a book casing inside a book-block casing-in machine. The device comprises two press-on rollers, arranged opposite each other in a press-on region, which respectively press one cover of the book casing against one adhesive-coated outer surface of a book block which is positioned straddling a support plate and is conveyed upward in a vertical section of a circulating conveyor, wherein these press-on rollers belong to a press-on device that operates synchronously with the conveyor. For the takeover by the book block, the book casing is fed to a holding position while lying flat on a sliding plane and aligned transverse to the perpendicular conveying section and is spread out so that it coincides with the length of the book block conveyed on the saddle plate.
With respect to improving the quality of a book and to increase the production reliability during the takeover and/or fitting of a book casing onto the supplied book block, a simple device is required which is installed on the book block casing-in machine and operates jointly with the press-on device.
The danger with book block casing-in machines as disclosed in German patent document DE 20 16 425 C or European patent document EP 1 072 436 A1 is that an aligned and ready book casing is lifted up in an uncontrolled manner by an upward moving book block and, in the process, is displaced before the press-on rollers of the press-on device can secure the position of the book casing on the book block spine. This problem is caused by the fact that before the book block takes over the book casing, the press-on device must be accelerated to the speed of the book block, thus causing it to be lifted slightly off the ready book casing.
It is an object of the present invention to correct this problem by creating a device of the aforementioned type which does not pose high requirements with respect to technical design and costs.
The above and other objects are accomplished according to an embodiment of the invention by the provision of a device for pressing a book casing onto adhesive-coated outer surfaces of a book block to be fitted with a book casing inside a book block casing-in machine, comprising: a circulating conveyor having a perpendicular section and saddle plates arranged to be conveyed upward in the perpendicular section; a press on device having a press-on region and operating synchronously with the circulating conveyor, the press on device including press-on rollers arranged opposite each other in the press-on region, which rollers respectively press one cover of the casing onto one adhesive-coated outer surface of a book block which is positioned straddling on one of the saddle plates conveyed upward in the perpendicular section of the circulating conveyor; a support plane on which a book casing can be positioned and evenly spread out to match a length of the book block conveyed on the saddle plate, the support plane being arranged so that the book casing thereon can be supplied transversely to the perpendicular conveying section to a holding position for takeover by the book block; and a flexible hold-down device located above the holding position to press the evenly spread out book casing onto the support plane.
Thus, according to the invention, a flexible hold-down device is installed above the holding position, which secures the book casing by pressing it onto the sliding plane. This increases both the production quality and the book quality. The hold-down device furthermore results in clamping in the book casing during the takeover by the book block, so that the back of the book casing can be fitted precisely onto the spine of the book block which is positioned straddling on a saddle plate, thereby causing the book casing to fit tightly against the book block.
The hold-down device advantageously requires only a simple installation on the press-on device.
It is furthermore advantageous if the hold-down device is provided with a hold-down element which acts upon a book cover by securing it precisely in the required position.
The hold-down element is preferably flexible and/or elastically deformable in the conveying direction of the book block, so that the hold-down element can be compressed easily. The hold-down device may comprise a material such as rubber, foam, or other material with similar properties. For example, a resilient metal spring element may be used as the hold-down device.
The hold-down element surface which faces a book cover is advantageously smooth, so that it leaves no permanent traces during the lifting up by means of the book block.
Also suitable may be a profiled surface for the hold-down element which has a reduced surface area as compared to a solid surface.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings to which reference is made for all details not expressly mentioned in the text.
Referring to
The guide elements 7, 7′ on the side are embodied in the form of guide bars 8, 8′ which rest on support bars 10, 10′ that can be adjusted as shown with double arrows 9, 9′. The support bars 8, 8′ comprise horizontally extending pivoting axes 11, 11′, arranged parallel to the saddle plate 2, on which respectively a yoke 12, 12′ is positioned pivoting, such that it can act upon the side edge region of a book cover 5, 5′ as a result of its own weight. The yoke 12, 12′ is embodied so that it can be adjusted with respect to its vertical position to adapt to a change in the book cover thickness. The book casing 4 is provided between the book covers 5, 5′ with a back insert 14, which is separated by joints 13, 13′ from the front and back cover and which forms the back of the finished book.
It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20 2004 015 354.8 | Oct 2004 | DE | national |
This application claims the priority of German Utility Patent No. 202004 015 354.8, filed on Oct. 2, 2004. The subject matter of the foregoing application and that of each U.S. and foreign patent and patent application mentioned below, is incorporated herein by reference.