Procedure for the covering of editorial items

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6613178
  • Patent Number
    6,613,178
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, July 12, 2000
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 2, 2003
    20 years ago
Abstract
A procedure for the covering of editorial items foresees at least the following steps: the positioning of an editorial object (10) to be covered, on a thermoplastic film (11), fitted with folds (12, 13, 31, 32) on its sides, so that the editorial object (10), open on the folded film indicated, has the sides (14, 15) of its cover tucked within the folds (12, 13, 31, 32); to bring the editorial object (10) in contact with the head weld (30) of the film so that it is in a suitable position for the cutting of the excess film and for the welds required to trim the sides of the editorial object (10), where the cutting and trimming operations are carried out through the use of a lever (17, 22, 24), fitted with hot resistances (18, 23, 25). The invention comprise also a device (110) for the covering of editorial objects.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a procedure for the covering of editorial items such as, for example, books, folders, post cards, greetings cards, magazines, calendars, small posters, photographs, photo-engravings etc.




Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device to cover editorial items.




There are well known procedures and methods used to cover books, or other editorial items, using covers of the largest dimensions of the editorial items in question and which are cut down to size around each one.




These kinds of systems, however, create an excessive waste of material.




Another method of covering involves the use of covers, complete with an adhesive strip or a double sided adhesive strip, which block such covers on the book cover or on the editorial object.




The disadvantage of these covers is that they are easily removable.




Some covers also exist which are just folded or closed, with additional elements: a bookmark or a protection for the corners of the pages.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Another objective of the present invention is that of carrying out a procedure for the covering of editorial items which allows for such items to be covered with a made-to-measure cover, in just a few seconds and at a very low cost.




Another objective of the invention is that of carrying out a procedure for the covering of editorial items which can be done on well known standard corner welding machines.




These and other objectives are achieved by a procedure for the covering of editorial items, comprising the positioning of an editorial object (


10


) to be covered on a thermoplastic film (


11


) fitted with folds (


12


,


13


,


31


,


32


) on its sides, so that said editorial object (


10


), open on the folded film, has the sides (


14


,


15


) of its cover tucked within said folds (


12


,


13


,


31


,


32


), bringing said editorial object (


10


) in contact with a head weld (


30


) of the film so that it is in a suitable position for the cutting and trimming of excess film and for welding of said sides of said editorial object (


10


), wherein said cutting and trimming operations are carried out through the use of a lever (


17


,


22


,


24


) fitted with hot resistances (


18


,


23


,


25


).




Furthermore, the objective of this invention is that of providing a device for the covering of editorial items which allows for the covering of editorial items with an ideal preciseness, in particular minimizing waste and allowing for the covering of the widest range of articles.




Further features of the invention are defined in the other claims attached to the present patent application.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the following description and drawings attached, provided purely as an explicative and not a limitative example, in which:





FIG. 1

is a schematic view of the first procedure step of covering of editorial items, according to the present invention;





FIGS. 2-7

are schematic views of the subsequent steps of the procedure of covering of editorial items, according to the present invention;





FIG. 8

is a schematic view of a book with an additional cover, according to a variant of the procedure of the invention;





FIG. 9

is a schematic view of the procedure of the invention, in the event that, a well known corner welding machine is used;





FIG. 10

is a schematic view of a further variant of the procedure of the invention, applied automatically,





FIG. 11

is a partial section view of the device used for the covering of editorial items, according to this finding, in a first operative position;





FIG. 12

is a detail, shown in detail, belonging to the device for the covering of editorial items, according to this finding;





FIGS. 13-16

are perspective views of the device for the covering of editorial items, according to the present finding, during subsequent steps of covering of one of these items;





FIG. 17

is the tensioning system, through the use of springs, of the welding protection sleeve in teflon which can be easily repositioned;





FIG. 18

illustrates the fact that, when not in use, the flap can be raised in order to reduce encumbrance;





FIG. 19

illustrates an example of covering with identical reels for standard foldable cards, even complete with an envelope, all of which, if necessary, automatically with just one welding;





FIG. 20

illustrates an example of covering with a single fold reel with unequal sides for an envelope-type package, all of which, if necessary, automatic with just one welding;





FIG. 21

illustrates a completely closed cover made from a single fold film with equal sides and welded on two sides;





FIG. 22

illustrates the rapid replacement system of the reels with a snap safety block;





FIG. 23

illustrates an extractable shelf for items that are larger than the work top, which can be fixed through the use of a brake;





FIG. 24

illustrates a straight sliding edge related to the device of the finding;





FIGS. 25 and 26

illustrate the presence of rebound rollers of dandy rolls on the reel holder; and





FIG. 27

illustrates the presence of supplementary feet belonging to the device of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




With particular reference to

FIGS. 1-10

, the procedure of the present invention includes the covering of a book, or another editorial object, indicated in its whole with the reference numeral


10


, carried out using a reel


21


of thermoplastic film


11


, already bent with mechanical systems and in the dimensions required.




In particular, the sheet of thermoplastic film


11


has a fixed fold


12


which is narrower than the fold


13


, which will subsequently be cut down.




As can be seen from

FIG. 1

, the book


10


to be covered, with numerous pages


16


, is placed open on the folded film


11


, in such a way that it has one side


14


of the cover tucked inside the smaller fold


12


, which is fixed for all of the reels


21


.




Subsequently, the book


10


, which is always open, is placed on the thermoplastic film


11


, in such a way that both sides


14


and


15


of the cover are tucked into the folds of the film


11


, and in particular, in such a way that fold


15


of the cover is tucked inside the larger fold


13


of the thermoplastic film


11


.




Furthermore book


10


is open and positioned with its pages


16


at the narrower fold


12


; the result of these procedures can be seen in FIG.


2


.




For greater convenience, such insertion of book


10


is carried out away from the top weld


30


of the film


11


.




The book


10


is then placed next to the top weld


30


of the film


11


, as indicated in

FIG. 3

, and subsequently pushed into an ideal position for a longitudinal cut and welding which is carried out using a lever


17


, with a hot resistance


18


.




As can be seen in

FIG. 14

, the film


11


is cut, using the lever


17


, and at the same time the welding is carried out, through the use of a hot resistance


18


, of the folds of the film itself in order to block the long side of the book


10


perfectly, opposite the top weld


30


of the film


11


.




Subsequently the book


10


is closed on the wide fold


13


of the film


11


and is turned in order to be positioned to carry out a trimming operation, always carried out using lever


17


which cuts the film


11


in correspondence of the excessive portion


13


of the film


11


and which at the same time, welds the folds, using the hot resistance


18


; these operations can be seen in

FIGS. 5-7

.




In this way, a book


10


which is perfectly contained within its protection is carried out using the covering procedure described, which is difficult to remove, unless the cover is intentionally damaged.




A variant of the procedure described is that further flaps


19


and


20


of thermoplastic film


11


are added to the book


10


on at least one of the two internal sides of the cover


14


and


15


, using at least one additional weld.




The procedure of the invention can even be applied using well known standard corner welding machines, carrying out two welds and trimmings with just one operation, for identical books and/or of identical dimensions.




In this case, schematically represented in

FIG. 9

, a sheet of thermoplastic film


11


, already folded and complete with folds


12


and


13


, is supplied by a reel


21


.




A book


10


is placed onto the sheet of thermoplastic film


11


with the extremities


14


and


15


inserted, as previously described, within the folds


12


and


13


of the film


11


.




The lever


22


, fitted with a hot resistance


23


, and the lever


24


, fitted with a hot resistance


25


, carry out, respectively, the operations of cutting and trimming of the long side of the book


10


and trimming of the side of the book


10


inserted within the wider fold


13


, as well as the cutting of the wider fold


13


itself.




We must point out that, using a suitable film, in particular a heat-shrinking film, the procedure described can be carried out on welding machines in order to create greater adhesion of the cover of the book


10


.




The procedure of the invention can also be automated, tucking the open book, in the direction indicated by arrow F in

FIG. 10

, when the folds


31


and


32


of the film


11


, flat, are forming and are not yet folded.




In this case it is preferable that the folds


31


and


32


are of the same width.




Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device for the covering of editorial items.




With particular reference to

FIGS. 11-27

, the device of the invention is globally indicated with the reference numeral


110


.




The device of the invention allows for the covering of an editorial object


111


, (in

FIG. 11

a book


111


), which is carried out using a reel of thermoplastic film which is already folded using mechanical systems and in the dimensions required.




The thermoplastic film can be folded once with identical sides or with different sides.




In particular, the device


110


presents a work top


113


, upon which a sheet cut from a reel of thermoplastic film


114


is placed, fitted with folds


115


,


116


on its sides, in order to hold the book


111


to be covered.




In particular, the sheet from the reel of thermoplastic film


114


presents a fixed fold


115


which is narrower than the fold


116


, which will subsequently be trimmed.




The device


110


includes, furthermore, numerous rollers


117


,


118


and


119


(which can be more than three if necessary) for different dimensions of film to be used in the covering of editorial items of different dimensions.




The device


110


also has a clutched lever


120


, which in an off position stops at the point required by the operator, fitted with a hot resistance


121


, which is hinged in


125


, used to cut and at the same time weld the thermoplastic film


114


.




On the side opposite that of the hinge


125


the device


110


includes a straight fixed edge


124


, in order to position better the book


111


to be covered.




On the side opposite that where the rollers


117


,


118


and


119


are provide, a straight element


126


is to be found, which slides along the fixed straight edge


124


.




The lever


120


, fitted with a hot resistance


121


, has a blade


127


, with a special trapezoidal section shape.




The shape of the blade


127


allows for remarkable work precision and can be placed in line with the book


111


to be covered, as can be seen in FIG.


11


.




The functioning of the device


110


for the covering of editorial items is briefly illustrated hereinbelow, with reference to the second type of editorial items, in particular a post card


128


, in order to illustrate the versatility of the device


110


.




The post card


128


to be covered is positioned open, on the work top


113


, above the folded film


114


, in such a way that it has one side tucked within the smaller fold


115


of the thermoplastic film


114


, which is fixed for all reels


112


of the same kind.




Subsequently the post card


128


, always to be found open, is placed on the thermoplastic film


114


, in such a way that both sides of its flat development are tucked within the folds of film


114


.




The post card


128


is then laid to rest on the head weld


123


of the film


114


, and is subsequently pushed into an ideal position for cutting and a longitudinal weld of the opposite side, which comes about using lever


120


, fitted with a hot resistance


121


.




The film


114


is then cut, using the lever


120


, hinged into


125


, and at the same time the welding is carried out, using the hot resistance


121


, of the folds of the same film to block perfectly the post card


128


on its long side, opposite the side of the head weld of the film


114


.




Subsequently, the post card


128


is closed along the wide fold of the film


114


and is turned in order to be positioned and carry out the trimming operation, always carried out using the lever


120


which cuts the film


114


according to its excessive portion and at the same time, using the hot resistance


121


, it welds the folds.




All of these operations can be facilitated and made more precise with the help of a fixed straight edge


124


and the straight sliding element


126


, substantially perpendicular.




We must point out that, even in this case, the shape of the blade


127


, with a trapezoidal section and belonging to the lever


120


, fitted with a hot resistance


121


, provides remarkable precision, and can be lined up against the post card


128


to be covered, as illustrated in FIG.


16


.




In this way, we have a post card


128


which is perfectly contained within its protection made using the method described.




Having to cover editorial items of different sizes a different reel can be used from a different roller


117


,


118


and


119


, or others and this demonstrates further still the remarkable versatility of the device


110


.




Furthermore, we must point out that the device


110


represents a tensioning system through the springs


130


of the welding protection sleeve in teflon which can be easily repositioned.




Furthermore, when not in use the flap can be raised to reduce encumbrance of the device


110


. In the case of covering with identical reels


136


, with identical sides


134


and


135


, for standard foldable cards, welding can also be carried out automatically, in order to create a foldable card


133


, complete with an envelope


132


and a cover


131


.




In the case of a cover with a single fold reel


140


with different sides for an envelope-type package, welding can be carried out automatically in order to create a printed object


139


, with a cover


138


and a removable wing


137


.




An entirely closed cover


150


can also be made, from a single fold film


141


with identical sides and welded on two sides.




A rapid replacement system of the reels with a snap safety block, using elements


142


and


143


, is also provided for.





FIG. 13

illustrates an extractable shelf


144


which allows for items that are larger than the work top


113


, which can be fixed through the use of a brake


145


.




The straight sliding edge of element


126


, related to the device of this finding, can also be mounted onto the profile of the extractable shelf in order to facilitate alignment during welding.




As can be seen from

FIGS. 15 and 16

, a rebound roller of dandy roll is mounted onto the reel holder, indicated respectively with


150


and


152


, with the objective of removing the film for the welding area and therefore facilitating subsequent operations and helping the detachment of the welding.




The supports


151


and


153


of the rebound rollers


150


and


152


must be folded towards the support


159


of the reel holder, reducing encumbrance when the machine is not in use.




Through the use of additional feet


154


, the reel holder can also work in a jolting manner, allowing for the machine to be used even on relatively small surfaces.




From the description provided above the features are clear of the procedure and device for the covering of editorial items, which are the subject of the present invention, just as the advantages are.




In particular, they are represented by:




reduced material waste




a remarkable accuracy in work and consequent high quality of the article covered;




the possibility of obtaining a cover which is permanent and not easily removable for greater protection of the book




a rapid and easy covering procedure, at extremely contained prices;




the possibility of covering books of various dimensions using the same reel




the possibility of using machines that are already available on the market and to automate the procedure itself.




Finally, it is clear that numerous variants can be made to the procedure and device for the covering of editorial items, which are the subject of the present invention, without leaving behind the principles of novelty based within this inventive idea.




In the practical implementation of the invention, the materials, the forms and the dimensions of the details illustrated may be any at all according to the requirements and they may be replaced with others that are technically equivalent.



Claims
  • 1. A procedure for the covering of editorial items, comprising positioning an opened editorial object (10) to be covered on a thermoplastic film (11) fitted with folds (12, 13, 31, 32) on its sides, so that said opened editorial object (10), on the film fitted with folds (12, 13, 31, 32), has sides (14, 15) of its cover tucked within said folds (12, 13, 31, 32); contacting said editorial object (10) with a head weld (30) of said thermoplastic film so that it is in a suitable position for a cutting and trimming step wherein excess thermoplastic film and welds of said sides of said editorial object (10), are subjected to cutting and trimming operations which are carried out by the use of a lever (17, 22, 24) fitted with hot resistances (18, 23, 25), wherein said folded thermoplastic film (11) is fed by a reel (21) and said thermoplastic film (11) located on said reel (21) has a fixed fold (12), and where said open editorial object (10) is placed on the folded thermoplastic film (11) with a side of its cover (14) being tucked into the fold (12), and an opposite side of the cover (15) being tucked into the opposite fold (13).
  • 2. Procedure according to claim 1, wherein said fixed fold (12) is narrower than the opposite fold (13).
  • 3. Procedure according to claim 1, wherein said cutting and trimming operations are carried out using levers (22, 24) fitted with hot resistances (23, 25) positioned at corners in such a way as to carry out two welds and trims in one operation.
  • 4. Procedure according to claim 1, wherein said film (11) is a heat-shrinking film used on welding machines in order to make the cover adhere perfectly to said editorial object (10).
  • 5. A procedure as defined in claim 1 wherein the editorial object is a book.
  • 6. Procedure according to claim 1, after the editorial object (10) has been placed on the head weld (30) of the thermoplastic film (11), said thermoplastic film is cut and at the same time welded longitudinally using said lever (17) fitted with a hot resistance (18).
  • 7. Procedure according to claim 6, comprising a step within which flaps (19, 20) of said thermoplastic film (11) on both sides of internal sides of the cover (14, 15) are added to the editorial object (10) through an additional weld.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
MI99A1561 Jul 1999 IT
MI2000A001203 May 2000 IT
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Number Name Date Kind
2460460 Langer Feb 1949 A
2961031 Fener Nov 1960 A
3713941 Saurs Jan 1973 A
5177931 Latter Jan 1993 A
5806280 Su Sep 1998 A
5851031 Golson Dec 1998 A