Patent Grant
8950995
The present invention relates to a machine for attachment of a cover to a book block and a book binding apparatus having the same.
As one of book binding processes, there is a cover attachment process of attaching a cover to a book block. In this process, a machine for attachment of a cover to a book block is used (see for example Patent Document 1). The machine includes a vertically movable press plate, and a pair of nip plates arranged on an upper surface of the press plate.
In the cover attachment process, the book block is held by a clamp unit above the pair of nip plates in such a manner that a lower end surface (a back surface) of the book block is opposed to a gap between the pair of nip plates and directed downward. The press plate is disposed at a lower standby position, and glue is applied to the lower end surface of the book block. When the press plate moves upward from the lower standby position to an upper press position, the cover is pressed against the lower end surface of the book block. While the press plate presses the cover against the lower surface of the book block, the nip plates nip both the book block and the cover in such a manner that the cover is pressed against both sides of a lower end portion of the book block, and the cover is attached to the book block.
In some conventional machines an operator can set a time (“a waiting time for nipping”) for which the press plate stays at the lower standby position, and a time (“a duration time for nipping”) for which the nip plates nip both the book block and the cover, so that the glue applied to the lower end surface of the book block can be dried to a predetermined cure degree. The lower end surface of the book block applied with the glue is held by the clamp unit, then the press plate moves upwardly from the lower standby position to the upper press position after the elapse of the waiting time for nipping. And the cover is pressed against the lower end surface of the book block. Thereafter, the nip plates nip both the book block and the cover, and move away from each other after the elapse of the duration time for nipping, so that the cover is attached to the book block.
In some conventional machines an operator can also set a time (a waiting time for producing a book without a cover) for which the glue dries. The machine generates an alarm signal in the form of sound and/or light to alarm to operators that the time has already passed.
The cover is pressed against the lower end surface of the book block by the press plate so as to attach the cover to the lower end surface of the book block with the glue, and the glue applied to the lower end surface of the book block is extruded to both sides of the lower end surface of the book block. Furthermore the cover is attached to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block with side glue by the nip plates. As shown in
However, depending on a viscosity of glue and/or a condition of an ambient temperature and so on, the conventional machine cannot sometimes produce the excellent finished book. As shown in
Patent Document 1: JP 2010-173070
It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for attachment of a cover to a book, which can produce a book with a cover of good appearance independent of the viscosity of glue and so on.
In the first invention, a machine for attachment of a cover to a book block comprises: a frame; a press plate attached to the frame to be vertically reciprocated between a lower standby position and an upper press position; a press plate elevating mechanism attached to the flame for elevating the press plate; a pair of nip plates disposed in parallel to each other on an upper surface of the press plate to be slid toward and away from each other; a nip plate drive mechanism attached to the press plate for sliding the nip plates; a clamp unit mounted on the frame for clamping a book block at both side thereof in such a way that a back surface of the book block to which glue is previously applied is directed downward, the clamp unit positioning the book block above a gap between the plates in such a way that the back surface of the book block is opposed to the gap, a cover being arranged over the press plate; and a controller controlling the press plate elevating mechanism and the nip plate drive mechanism, whereby the press plate together with the nip plates elevates from the lower standby position to an intermediate position adjacent to the upper press position, the press plate stays at the intermediate position during a waiting time for adjustment, the press plate together with the nip plates elevates from the intermediate position to the upper press position, and then the nip plates move toward each other so as to attach the cover to the book block.
The controller includes a touch screen for receiving an input of a value of the waiting time for adjustment to control the press plate mechanism.
In the second invention, a machine for attachment of a cover to a book block comprises: a frame; a press plate attached to the frame to be vertically reciprocated between a lower standby position and an upper press position; a press plate elevating mechanism attached to the flame for elevating the press plate; a pair of nip plates disposed in parallel to each other on an upper surface of the press plate to be slid toward and away from each other; a nip plate drive mechanism attached to the press plate for sliding the nip plates; a clamp unit mounted on the frame for clamping a book block at both side thereof in such a way that a back surface of the book block to which glue is previously applied is directed downward, the clamp unit positioning the book block above a gap between the plates in such a way that the back surface of the book block is opposed to the gap, a cover being arranged over the press plate; and a controller controlling the press plate elevating mechanism and the nip plate drive mechanism, whereby the press plate together with the nip plates elevates from the lower standby position to an intermediate position adjacent to the upper press position at a first speed, the press plate together with the nip plates elevates from the intermediate position to the upper press position at a second speed lower than the first speed, and then the nip plates move toward each other so as to attach the cover to the book block.
The controller includes a touch screen for receiving an input of a value of the second speed to control the press plate elevating mechanism.
A book binding apparatus comprises: a milling unit for grinding the back surface of the book block; a glue application unit for applying glue to the back surface of the book block grinded by the milling unit; and a cover attachment unit comprising the machine for attachment of the cover to the book block according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the cover attachment unit attaching the cover to the back surface of the book block to which the glue is applied by the glue application unit, the milling unit, the glue application unit and the cover attachment unit being sequentially arranged in a line, the cover attachment unit having the function of a book block insertion unit for setting the book block in the clamp unit, the clamp unit being guided by a slide guide arranged in parallel to the line to the line of the milling unit, the glue application unit and the cover attachment unit having the function of the book block insertion unit to reciprocate between the milling unit and the cover attachment unit, the book block being inserted to the clamp unit, the back surface of the book block being positioned by being abutted against the press plate when the clamp unit is positioned at the book block insertion unit, the back surface of the book block being then clamped by the clamp unit and moved to the milling unit from the book block insertion unit beyond the glue application unit, the book block being then moved from the milling unit to the cover attachment unit through the glue application unit, the back surface of the book block being processed by the grinding, applied with the glue and attached with the cover during the movement.
In the machine of the invention the intermediate position is provided. The intermediate position is adjacent to the upper press position. Furthermore the intermediate position is disposed between the lower standby position and the upper press position. The machine of the first invention elevates the press plate from the lower standby position to the intermediate position, and stays the press plate at the intermediate position during a waiting time for adjustment, and then elevates the press plate from the intermediate position to the upper press position. The machine of the second invention elevates the press plate from the lower standby position to the intermediate position at a first speed, and then elevates the press plate from the intermediate position to the upper press position at a second speed lower than the first speed.
As a result, even if the glue has a high viscosity and so on, the glue applied to the lower end surface of the book block can be appropriately extruded to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block, and the cover is attached to the lower end surface of the book block and the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block. At the same time, the press plate is elevated to the upper press position after the glue is extruded to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block, whereby the press plate is prevented from elevating with a great amount of the glue applied to the lower end surface of the book block. And the glue applied to the lower end surface of the book block is not rapidly subjected to an extra pressure. The glue can be prevented from being entered into the book block. Therefore the machine of the present invention can appropriately extrude the glue to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block, and can prevent the glue from entering into the book block. Consequently, the machine can produce a book with a cover of beautiful appearance.
A machine for attachment of a cover to a book block and a book binding apparatus having the same according to the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
At first, the first embodiment of the machine according to the present invention will be explained.
[Structure]
As shown in
Although not shown in the drawings, the clamp unit 5 includes a pair of movable clamping plates, and a gap adjusting mechanism for causing the movable clamping plates to move toward and away from each other.
A milling unit 1 includes a milling machine 1a and a grinding blade 1b provided on the milling machine 1a. While the book block 4 passes through the milling unit 1, a back surface of the book block 4 is uniformly grinded by the milling machine 1a, and grooves with broad pitch are formed on the grinded back surface of the book block 4 by the grinding blade 1b.
The glue application unit 2 includes a glue tank 2a filled with glue such as hot-melt adhesive, and a gluing drum 2b provided in the glue tank 2a. The glue application unit 2 applies glue to a back surface of a book block 4 grinded by the milling unit 1.
Although not shown in the drawings, the glue tank 2a and the gluing drum 2b can be moved in vertical direction between a position where they are engaged with the book block 4 moved by the clamp unit 5 and a position where they retreat from the book block 4.
A pair of slide guides 6 is attached to the frame 7. The pair of slide guides 6 is arranged in parallel to each other on both sides of the line of the milling unit 1, the glue application unit 2 and the cover attachment unit 3 having the function of the book block insertion unit. The clamp unit 5 is guided by the pair of slide guides 6. The clamp unit 5 is arranged above the line of the milling unit 1, the glue application unit 2 and the cover attachment unit 3, and reciprocates between the milling unit 1 and the cover attachment unit 3. The book binding apparatus also includes a controller 30 (see
As shown in
In this embodiment, the press plate 8 has a rectangular shape, and the pair of nip plates 9 and 10 is arranged in parallel to a pair of opposing side edges of the press plate 8. One of the opposed side edges of the press plate 8 is attached to the frame 7 by a shaft 11 which extends in parallel to the nip plates, so that the press plate 8 swings around an axis of the shaft 11 and vertically reciprocates.
A slit (not shown) is formed in the press plate 8 in a direction across the central portion of the nip plates 9 and 10 at a right angle. A feed-screw 17 is attached to a lower surface of the press plate 8 through a pair of support members 16a and 16b. The feed-screw 17 extends in parallel to the slit. Each support member 16a, 16b has a bearing, and the feed-screw 17 is supported by the bearings for rotation around the shaft. The nip plates 9 and 10 are provided at their lower surfaces with extension portions 9a and 10a. Each extension portion 9a, 10a includes a through hole having a screw groove. The extension portions 9a, 10a project downward through the slit, and are engaged with the feed-screw 17 through the through hole. Directions of screws of the feed-screw 17 are different from each other on both sides of a position corresponding to the slit. Therefore, as the feed-screw 17 rotates, the pair of nip plates 9 and 10 can slide in directions toward and away from each other along the slit.
A vertical fixed plate 14 is mounted on a lower surface of the press plate 8 in a way that it is opposed to an end of the feed-screw 17 projecting from the support member 16b. A nip plate drive motor 13 is fixed to the fixed plate 14. A drive shaft 13a of the nip plate drive motor 13 is arranged below the feed-screw 17 in parallel thereto. A pulley 15 is mounted on the drive shaft 13a of the nip plate drive motor 13, and a pulley 18 is mounted on an end of the feed-screw 17 opposed thereto. An endless belt 19 is extended between the pulley 15 and the pulley 18. When the nip plate drive motor 13 is driven, the feed-screw 17 is rotated, and the pair of nip plates 9 and 10 slides along the slit. The nip plate drive motor 13 is controlled by the controller 30 (see
In this embodiment, the nip plate drive mechanism is comprised of the slit, the feed-screw 17, the pulley 15, the pulley 18, the endless belt 19 and the nip plate drive motor 13.
The nip plate drive mechanism is not limited to the above structure, and can be applied to various structures using a hydraulic piston, electrical motor and so on.
The press plate elevating mechanism comprises a first elevation unit for vertically moving a first end X of the press plate 8 which is positioned at the top edge side of the book block 4, and a second elevation unit for vertically moving a second end Y of the press plate 8 which is positioned on the bottom edge side of the book block 4.
In this embodiment, a first elevation unit of the press plate elevating mechanism comprises a first stepping motor 20 arranged below a lower side of a first end X of the press plate 8 and mounted on the frame 7, a first plate cam 21 fixed to a drive shaft 20a of the first stepping motor 20, a first rod 28 projecting from a lower surface of the first end X of the press plate 8, and a first roller 22 attached to an end of the first rod 28 through a pin 23 and abutting against an edge of the first plate cam 21 from above. When the first stepping motor 20 is driven, the first plate cam 21 rotates, so that the first rod 28 moves vertically, and the first end X of the press plate 8 moves vertically.
The second elevation unit of the press plate elevating mechanism comprises a second stepping motor 24 arranged below the second end Y of the press plate 8 and mounted on the frame 7, a second plate cam 25 fixed to a drive shaft 24a of the second stepping motor 24, a second rod 29 projecting from a lower surface of the second end Y of the press plate 8, and a second roller 26 attached to a tip end of the second rod 29 by a pin 27 and abutting against an edge of the second plate cam 25 from above. When the second stepping motor 24 is driven, the second plate cam 25 rotates, so that the second rod 29 moves vertically, and the second end Y of the press plate 8 moves vertically.
The first and second stepping motors 20 and 24 are separately controlled by the controller 30 (see
If the height of the first and second ends X and Y does not need to set separately, the press plate elevating mechanism can be constructed by one stepping motor, one plate cam and so on. The press plate elevating mechanism is not limited to the above structure, and can be applied to various structures using a hydraulic piston, electrical motor and so on.
[Movement]
When the clamp unit 5 is positioned at a book block insertion unit 3 (one end of a guide rail 6) as shown in
The press plate 8 is then lowered to the lower standby position from the alignment position, the book block 4 clamped by the clamp unit 5 is moved from the book block insertion unit 3 to the other end of the guide rail 6 through the glue application unit 2 as shown in
When the clamp unit 5 reaches the other end of the guide rail 6, the cover 12 is arranged at a position on the press plate 8 of the cover attachment unit 3, and the glue tank 2a and the gluing drum 2b of the glue application unit 2 are moved upward to the positions where they engage with the book block 4. The book block 4 clamped by the clamp unit 5 is moved from the milling unit 1 to the cover attachment unit 3 through the glue application unit 2. During this motion, reversely inclined new grooves are formed on the back surface of the book block 4 with a given pitch in the milling unit 1, and glue is applied to the back surface of the book block 4 by the glue application unit 2.
Next, a cover attachment process of attaching a cover to a book block will be explained below with reference to
As shown in
Thereafter, as shown in
The cover 12 is pressed against the back surface of the book block 4 by the press plate 8 at the intermediate position during the waiting time for adjustment, and the glue applied to the lower end surface of the book block 4 is appropriately extruded to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block 4.
The intermediate position is between the lower standby position and the upper press position. Furthermore, the intermediate position is considerably close to the upper press position. The intermediate position is disposed below the upper press position at for example 0.1 to 0.8 mm. The waiting time for adjustment is for example 2 to 6 seconds. The intermediate position and the waiting time for adjustment are set depending on the amount and the viscosity of the glue, the ambient temperature and so on.
Thereafter, as shown in
Then as shown in
And then, the nip plates 9 and 10 move away from each other, the press plate 8 lowers from the upper press position to the lower standby position, whereby the cover attachment process is completed.
As above stated, the press plate 8 stays during the waiting time for adjustment at the intermediate position adjacent to the upper press position, as a result the glue 40 applied to the lower end surface of the book block 4 is appropriately extruded to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block 4. At the same time, the press plate 8 is elevated from the intermediate position to the upper press position after the glue 40 is extruded to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block 4, whereby the press plate 8 is prevented from elevating with a great amount of the glue 40 applied to the lower end surface of the book block 4. The glue 40 applied to the lower end surface of the book block 4 is not rapidly subjected to an extra pressure. The glue 40 can be prevented from being entered into the book block 4.
In this embodiment, the controller 30 includes a touch screen 31 as shown in
As shown in
Further, the setting display area for the nipping operation has a screen area 31b for setting the duration time for nipping, a screen area 31d for setting the waiting time for nipping, and a screen area 31f for setting the waiting time for adjustment.
Each of the screen areas 31a to 31f has a “+” button for increasing a set value and a “−” button for decreasing the set value. The set values can be easily inputted by pressing these buttons. For example, in the screen area 31f, the waiting time for adjustment can be increased (for example to 6 seconds) by pressing the “+” button, while the waiting time for adjustment can be decreased (for example to 2 seconds) by pressing the “−” button.
Although not shown in the drawings, a height of the alignment position of the press plate 8 of the book block insertion unit 3 can be set on the setting display area for the milling operation, and a clamp pressure of the clamp unit 5 and a speed of motion of the clamp unit 5 can be set on the setting display area for the clamping operation.
A set value inputted through the touch screen 31 is stored in a memory (not shown) of the controller 30. Based on the set value stored in the memory, the milling unit 1, the glue application unit 2 and the clamp unit 5 are controlled as well as the first and second stepping motors 20 and 24 and the nip plate drive motor 13.
In this embodiment, a height of the intermediate position is previously stored in the memory of the controller 30 (for example, a distance of 0.2 mm from the upper press position is stored). However, in another embodiment, a screen area for setting the height of the intermediate position can be provided on the setting display area for the nipping operation, and operator can set the height of the intermediate position.
Next, the second embodiment of the machine according to the present invention will be explained below. In order to avoid explaining redundantly, the difference between the first and second embodiments will be explained below.
A cover attachment process of attaching a cover to a book block will be explained below with reference to
As shown in
Thereafter, as shown in
The cover 12 is pressed against the back surface of the book block 4 by the press plate 8 at the intermediate position so that the glue applied to the lower end surface of the book block 4 is appropriately extruded to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block 4.
The intermediate position is between the lower standby position and the upper press position. Furthermore, the intermediate position is considerably close to the upper press position. The intermediate position is disposed below the upper press position at for example 0.1 to 0.8 mm.
Thereafter, as shown in
The press plate 8 is moved upward from the intermediate position to the upper press position at a second speed. The second speed is set to be considerably lower than the first speed. For example, the second speed is 5 to 20% of the first speed.
Thereafter, as shown in
Thereafter, the nip plates 9 and 10 move away from each other, the press plate 8 lowers from the upper press position to the lower standby position, whereby the cover attachment process is completed.
As above stated, the press plate 8 is moved upward from the intermediate position adjacent to the upper press position to the upper press position at the considerably slower second speed, and the glue 40 applied to the lower end surface of the book block 4 is appropriately extruded to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block 4. At the same time, the glue 40 is gradually extruded to the both sides of the lower end portion of the book block 4 while the press plate 8 is elevated from the intermediate position to the upper press position, whereby the press plate 8 is prevented from elevating with a great amount of the glue 40 applied to the lower end surface of the book block 4. The glue 40 applied to the lower end surface of the book block 4 is not rapidly subjected to an extra pressure. The glue 40 can be prevented from being entered into the book block 4.
Although not shown in the drawings, the setting display area for the nipping operation has a screen area for setting the second speed. In the screen area, the second speed can be increased (for example 20% of the first speed) by pressing the “+” button, while the second speed can be decreased (for example 5% of the first speed) by pressing the “−” button.
In the above-mentioned embodiment, the machine for attachment of the cover to the book block of the present invention may be not only applied to the cover attachment unit of the book binding apparatus for perfect book binding, but also used as a single apparatus for attachment of a cover to a book block.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2011/069062 | 8/24/2011 | WO | 00 | 6/4/2013 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2013/027279 | 2/28/2013 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7845890 | Sasamoto et al. | Dec 2010 | B2 |
| 8613581 | Winkelmann et al. | Dec 2013 | B2 |
| 20090245975 | Hattori | Oct 2009 | A1 |
| 20100189530 | Kojima | Jul 2010 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-227439 | Oct 2009 | JP |
| 2010-173070 | Aug 2010 | JP |
| 2011-031533 | Feb 2011 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report for PCT/JP2011/069062, mailing date of Oct. 4, 2011. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130259607 A1 | Oct 2013 | US |
