Claims
- 1. A set finishing apparatus adapted for utilization with sheets fed from an image producing machine comprising:a two part heater element having a first part, forming a right angular seat for a right angular binding strip, and a second part; a magazine for receiving a stack of the binding strips; a transport mechanism adapted to successively move one of the binding strips from the magazine to the right angular seat; a delivery mechanism adapted to deliver a set of sheets to the binding strip in the right angular seat with an edge of the set supported by the right angular seat with the binding strip therebetween; an engagement mechanism adapted to move the second part of the heater element parallel pressure engagement with the set of sheets against a parallel portion of the first part; and the heater element being adapted to applying heat to the binding strip.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:wherein the right angular seat pivots downwardly for removal of bound sets.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:the second part of the heater element is initially in a position generally aligned with a first portion of the right angular seat to collectively receive a first portion of the right angular binding strip, while a second portion of the right angular binding strip is received by a second portion of the first part of the heater element; and the second part of the heater element being adapted to move into a position generally parallel to the second portion of the first part of the heater element, separated therefrom by the intervening set of sheets with the second portion of the right angular binding strip and a length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip on opposing sides of the set of sheets and in contact, respectively, with the first part of the heater element and the second part of the heater element.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:the second part of the heater element is initially in a position generally aligned with a first portion of the right angular seat to collectively receive a first portion of the right angular binding strip, while a second portion of the right angular binding strip is received by a second portion of the first part of the heater element; and the second part of the heater element being adapted to move into a position generally parallel to the second portion of the first part of the heater element, separated therefrom by the intervening set of sheets with the second portion of the right angular binding strip and a length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip on opposing sides of the set of sheets and in contact, respectively with the first part of the heater element and the second part of the heater element.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:the heater element including a heater assembly adapted to apply heat to each of the first and second parts of the heater element; and, the second part of the heater element adapted to move the length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip into engagement with the set of sheets and to apply pressure, in conjunction with the first part of the heater element to the intervening set of sheets and right angular binding strip.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:the heater element including a heater assembly adapted to apply heat to each of the first and second parts of the heater element; and, the second part of the heater element adapted to move the length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip into engagement with the set of sheets and to apply pressure, in conjunction with the first part of the heater element, to the intervening set of sheets and right angular binding strip.
- 7. A set finishing means for utilization with sheets fed from an image producing machine comprising:a two part heater means for applying heat and pressure to a right angular binding strip, the two part heater means having a first part, forming a right angular seat for the right angular binding strip, and a second part moveable in relation to the first part; a magazine for receiving a stack of the binding strips; a transport means for successively moving one of the binding strips from the magazine to the right angular seat; a delivery means for delivering a set of sheets to the binding strip in the right angular seat with an edge of the set supported by the right angular seat with the binding strip therebetween; an engagement means for moving the second part of the heater element into parallel pressure engagement with the set of sheets against a parallel portion of the first part; and the heater means applying heat to the binding strip.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:wherein the right angular seat pivots downwardly for removal of bound sets.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:the second part of the heater means is initially in a position generally aligned with a first portion of the right angular seat to collectively receive a first portion of the right angular binding strip, while a second portion of the right angular binding strip is received by a second portion of the first part of the heater means; and the second part of the heater means having a means to move the second part of the heater means into a position generally parallel to the second portion of the first part of the heater means, separated therefrom by the intervening set of sheets with the second portion of the right angular binding strip and a length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip on opposing sides of the set of sheets and in contact, respectively, with the first part of the heater element and the second part of the heater element.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:the second part of the heater means is initially in a position generally aligned with a first portion of the right angular seat to collectively receive a first portion of the right angular binding strip, while a second portion of the right angular binding strip is received by a second portion of the first part of the heater means; and the second part of the heater means having a means to move the second part of the heater means into a position generally parallel to the second portion of the first part of the heater means, separated therefrom by the intervening set of sheets with the second portion of the right angular binding strip and a length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip on opposing sides of the set of sheets and in contact, respectively, with the first part of the heater element and the second part of the heater element.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:the heater means including a heater assembly means for applying heat to each of the first and second parts of the heater means; and, the second part of the heater means including means for moving the length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip into engagement with the set of sheets and for applying pressure, in conjunction with the first part of the heater means, to the intervening set of sheets and right angular binding strip.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:the heater means including a heater assembly means for applying heat to each of the first and second parts of the heater means; and, the second part of the heater means including means for moving the length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip into engagement with the set of sheets and for applying pressure, in conjunction with the first part of the heater means, to the intervening set of sheets and right angular binding strip.
- 13. A method for set finishing for utilization with sheets fed from an image producing machine comprising:employing a two part heater element to apply heat and pressure to a right angular binding strip, the two part heater element having a first part, forming a right angular seat for the right angular binding strip, and a second part moveable in relation to the first part; receiving a stack of the binding strips in a binding strip magazine; successively moving one of the binding strips from the magazine to the right angular seat; delivering a set of sheets to the binding strip in the right angular seat with an edge of the set supported by the right angular seat with the binding strip therebetween; moving the second part of the heater element into parallel pressure engagement with the set of sheets against a parallel portion of the first part; and applying heat to the binding strip through the fist and second parts of the heater element.
- 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:pivoting the angular seat downwardly to remove the bound sets.
- 15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:initially positioning the second part of the heater element in a position generally aligned with a first portion of the right angular seat to collectively receive a first portion of the right angular binding strip, while a second portion of the right angular binding strip is received by a second portion of the first part of the heater element; and moving the second part of the heater element into a position generally parallel to the second portion of the first part of the heater element, separated therefrom by the intervening set of sheets with the second portion of the right angular binding strip and a length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip on opposing sides of the set of sheets and in contact, respectively, with the first part of the heater element and the second part of the heater element.
- 16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:initially positioning the second part of the heater element in a position generally aligned with a first portion of the right angular seat to collectively receive a first portion of the right angular binding strip, while a second portion of the right angular binding strip is received by a second portion of the first part of the heater element; and moving the second part of the heater element into a position generally parallel to the second portion of the first part of the heater element, separated therefrom by the intervening set of sheets with the second portion of the right angular binding strip and a length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip on opposing sides of the set of sheets and in contact, respectively, with the first part of the heater element and the second part of the heater element.
- 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:applying heat to each of the first and second parts of the heater element; and, utilizing the second part of the heater element to move the length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip into engagement with the set of sheets and to apply pressure, in conjunction with the first part of the heater element, to the intervening set of sheets and right angular binding strip.
- 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:applying heat to each of the first and second parts of the heater element; and, utilizing the second part of the heater element to move the length of the first portion of the right angular binding strip into engagement with the set of sheets and to apply pressure, in conjunction with the first part of the heater element, to the intervening set of sheets and right angular binding strip.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a Divisional Application based upon U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/078,202, filed on May 14, 1998, entitled Set Binding, Stapling and Stacking Apparatus, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,999.
US Referenced Citations (16)