BINDING FOLDER FOR BINDING LEAVES AND METHOD TO PRODUCE SUCH BINDING FOLDER

Abstract

Binding folder for binding a bundle of leaves (2), whereby this binding folder (1) comprises a cover (3) with a spine (5) and two endpapers (6), whereby in the spine (5) a U-shaped profile (4) from heat-conductive material is applied, whereby the U-shaped profile (4) comprises a base (7) and upright arms (8) and whereby in the U-shaped profile (4) a binding adhesive (9) in the form of a hotmelt adhesive is applied, characterised in that the U-shaped profile (4) in the spine (5) is applied by means of an assembly adhesive (11) between the upright arms (8) of the U-shaped profile (4) and the spine (5) of the cover (3), whereby this assembly adhesive (11) extends beyond the free edges (10) of the upright arms (8) and over these free edges (10).

Claims

1. A binding folder for binding a bundle of leaves, the binding folder comprises a continuous cover with a spine and two endpapers, wherein in the spine a U-shaped profile from heat-conductive material is applied, with the U-shaped profile comprising a base and upright arms and wherein in the U-shaped profile a binding adhesive is applied in the form of a hotmelt adhesive, wherein the U-shaped profile is applied in the spine by an assembly adhesive between the upright arms of the U-shaped profile and the spine of the cover, wherein the assembly adhesive extends beyond free edges of the upright arms and over the free edges, wherein the assembly adhesive is a non-reactivatable glue.

2. The binding folder according to claim 1, wherein the U-shaped profile is made of metal.

3. The binding folder according to claim 1, wherein the binding adhesive is at least applied on the base of the U-shaped profile.

4. The binding folder according to claim 1, wherein the cover is made from cardboard, plastic or laminated foil.

5. The binding folder according to claim 1, wherein the cover is laminated on an inside with a layer of plastic.

6. The binding folder according to claim 1, wherein a paper layer covers an inside of the U-shaped profile.

7. The binding element according to claim 1, wherein the U-shaped profile is made in such a way that the free edges of the upright arms may be folded toward one another.

8. The binding element according to claim 1, wherein the cover is glued over a whole outside surface of the U-shaped profile or a portion of the whole outside surface of the U-shaped profile.

9. A method to produce a binding folder, the method comprising: providing a flat continuous cover consisting of a spine and two endpapers; applying of an assembly adhesive on an inside of the cover in the form of two or more strips extending at a distance from one another and parallel or approximately parallel to each other in the spine of the cover; placing of a U-shaped profile of heat-conductive material in the spine of the cover, with the U-shaped profile comprising a base and upright arms and in the U-shaped profile a binding adhesive in the form of a hotmelt adhesive is applied; folding up of the endpapers of the cover such that the spine of the cover is folded around and against the U-shaped profile; wherein an amount of the assembly adhesive that is applied on the inside of the cover is chosen such that after folding the cover, the assembly adhesive extends beyond the free edges of the upright arms and over the free edges.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein after the step of folding up the endpapers upwards, the spine of the cover is pressed against the U-shaped profile such that an adhesion is obtained.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the U-shaped profile is produced from a sheet of heat-conductive material, wherein a paper layer covers on at least one side of the sheet, wherein subsequently on the at least one side a binding adhesive in the form of a hotmelt adhesive is applied, after which the sheet is formed into a U-shaped profile such that the hotmelt adhesive is located on an inside of the U-shaped profile.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein three strips of the assembly adhesive are applied, wherein one strip is placed on a location of the cover corresponding to the location of the base of the U-shaped profile.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the U-shaped profile is produced from a sheet of heat-conductive material, wherein a paper layer covers or is glued, on at least one side of the sheet, wherein subsequently on the at least one side a binding adhesive in the form of a hotmelt adhesive is applied, after which the sheet is formed into a U-shaped profile such that the hotmelt adhesive is located on an inside of the U-shaped profile.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein three strips of the assembly adhesive are applied, wherein one strip is placed on a location of the cover corresponding to the location of the base of the U-shaped profile.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein three strips of the assembly adhesive are applied, wherein one strip is placed on a location of the cover corresponding to the location of the base of the U-shaped profile.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein three strips of the assembly adhesive are applied, wherein one strip is placed on a location of the cover corresponding to the location of the base of the U-shaped profile.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the paper layer is glued to the at least one side of the sheet.

18. The binding folder according to claim 1, wherein the non-reactivatable glue is a polyurethane glue.

19. The binding folder according to claim 5, wherein the layer of plastic is a layer of polyvinyl chloride or polyester.

20. The binding folder according to claim 6, wherein the paper layer is glued to the inside of the U-shaped profile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the present disclosure, a few embodiments of a binding folder according to the present disclosure are described hereinafter by way of an example without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0050] FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a binding folder according to the present disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-section according to the line II-II of FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 3 schematically shows the cross-section of FIG. 2, but with a bound bundle of leaves;

[0053] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of FIG. 2;

[0054] FIG. 5 shows another alternative embodiment of FIG. 2;

[0055] FIG. 6 schematically shows a method to produce a binding folder according to the present disclosure;

[0056] FIG. 7 schematically shows the method to produce the binding folder according to the present disclosure;

[0057] FIG. 8 schematically shows an alternative method to produce a binding folder according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] The binding folder 1 for binding a bundle of leaves 2 according to the present disclosure shown in FIG. 1 comprises mainly a continuous cover 3 and a U-shaped profile 4.

[0059] The continuous cover 3 comprises a spine 5 with two endpapers 6 affixed or attached to it. In other words, the spine 5 and the two endpapers 6 constitute a whole.

[0060] The cover 3 is, for example, made of plastic, such as, for example, polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate.

[0061] A U-shaped profile 4 made of a heat-conductive material is applied in the spine 5 of the cover 3.

[0062] In some embodiments, this heat-conductive material is a metal, such as steel for example.

[0063] The U-shaped profile 4 contains a base 7 and two upright arms 8.

[0064] The base 7 is flat in this case, but could also be curved.

[0065] As is clearly shown in the cross-section of FIG. 2, a binding adhesive 9 in the form of a hotmelt adhesive is applied in the profile 4.

[0066] Using this binding adhesive 9, a bundle of leaves 2 can be bound in the binding folder 1 by melting the binding adhesive 9.

[0067] In some embodiments, the binding adhesive 9 is at least applied on the base 7 of the U-shaped profile 4.

[0068] It is not excluded that the binding adhesive 9 is also applied to (a part of) the upright arms 8 of the profile 4.

[0069] Moreover, it is also possible that not the entire base 7 is provided with binding adhesive 9, but only a part thereof.

[0070] In this case, but not necessarily, the U-shaped profile 4 is made such that free edges 10 of the arms 8 can be folded towards one another.

[0071] This provides the advantage that with the same spine size or spine width several thicknesses of bundles of leaves 2 can be bound, in view of the fact that if thinner bundles 2 are used the difference between the thickness of the bundle 2 and the width of the profile 4 can be easily compensated by pressing the arms 8 towards one another up to against the outermost leaves of the bundle 2 so that no open gap can be seen by the user.

[0072] In this way one spine width of a binding folder 1 according to the present disclosure can replace five spine widths of a conventional thermal binding folder, for example, such that less stock has to be held.

[0073] According to the present disclosure, the U-shaped profile 4 is applied in the spine 5 of the cover 3 by an assembly adhesive 11 between the upright arms 8 of the U-shaped profile 4 and the spine 5 of the cover 3.

[0074] According to the present disclosure the assembly adhesive is a non-reactivatable glue, such as e.g. a polyurethane glue or PUR glue.

[0075] This provides the advantage that it cannot be activated unintentionally when melting the binding adhesive 9 when binding a bundle of leaves 2.

[0076] Moreover, a PUR glue has a long set time, which means there will be enough time to attach the U-shaped profile 4 in the cover 3.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 2, this assembly adhesive 11 extends beyond the free edges 10 of the upright arms 8 and the assembly adhesive 11 extends over these free edges 10.

[0078] In this way the free edges 10 are covered by the assembly adhesive 11.

[0079] Although this is not necessary for the present disclosure, in the shown example the cover 3 is glued over the whole or practically the whole outside surface of the U-shaped profile 4 on the U-shaped profile 4.

[0080] This provides the advantage that the U-shaped profile 4 is firmly anchored in the cover 3 and even in case of frequent use cannot detach.

[0081] It is also possible that the assembly adhesive 11 is only located at the level of the upright arms 8 of the profile 4, e.g. when an assembly adhesive 11 with very strong adhesive strength is applied or when the binding folder 1 will not be intensively or frequently opened.

[0082] The use of a binding folder 1 is very simple and as follows.

[0083] By applying heat to the spine 5 of the cover 3, the binding adhesive 9 will turn into liquid.

[0084] Because the U-shaped profile 4 is made of heat-conductive material, the heat will quickly penetrate from the cover 3 through the profile 4 and reach the binding adhesive 9.

[0085] Because the assembly adhesive 11 is a non-reactivatable glue it will not get softer or start to melt.

[0086] When the binding adhesive 9 is liquid, a bundle of leaves 2 can be applied in the spine 5.

[0087] By cooling, the binding adhesive 9 will set and the leaves of the bundle 2 will be bound in the binding folder 1, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0088] Possibly the free edges 10 of the upright arms 8 of the U-shaped profile 4 can be folded towards one another, if the bundle of leaves 2 is thinner than the spine width of the binding folder 1.

[0089] FIG. 4 shows a variation according to FIG. 2, whereby in this case a paper layer 12 covers or is glued on the inside of the U-shaped profile 4.

[0090] This provides the advantage that the inside of the U-shaped profile 4 is also protected against rust.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 4, the binding adhesive 9 is applied on this paper layer 12.

[0092] It is clear that this paper layer 12 can be realised in different ways and varieties of paper.

[0093] It is also possible that the layer 12 is plastic instead of paper.

[0094] FIG. 5 shows a second variant according to FIG. 2, whereby in this case the cover 3 is made from cardboard.

[0095] As the fibres of the cardboard when using the binding folder 1 will detach from the cardboard, even with very compact cardboard, the U-shaped profile 4 will detach from the cover 3 as the assembly adhesive 11 will detach from the cover 3 because of the detaching fibres.

[0096] That is why in this case the cover 3 on the inside, i.e. the side against which the U-shaped profile 4 is applied, is laminated with a layer of plastic 13.

[0097] In this way the assembly adhesive 11 cannot detach from the detaching fibres.

[0098] The layer of plastic 13 may be of polyvinyl chloride, PVC, or polyester, for example.

[0099] Laminating the cover 3 with a layer of plastic 13 can of course additionally also be done on the outside.

[0100] It is also possible to apply this in a cover 3 that is not made of cardboard. In some embodiments, every cover 3 made of a fibre or fibrous material is laminated with a plastic layer 13.

[0101] The method according to the present disclosure to produce a binding folder 1 in FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0102] The start is a flat continuous cover 3 consisting of a spine 5 and two endpapers 6.

[0103] Flat cover 3 means that the spine 5 is flat and that the endpapers 6 extend in the extension of the spine 5 on either side of the spine 5.

[0104] Then, an assembly adhesive 11, e.g. PUR glue is applied on the inside of the cover 3.

[0105] The assembly adhesive 11 is applied in the form of two or more strips 14 extending at a distance from one another and parallel or approximately parallel to each other in the spine 5 of the cover 3. It is not excluded there may be more than two strips 14.

[0106] In some embodiments, the strips 14 will be applied on the cover 3 at a distance from one another corresponding with the places of the free edges 10 when the spine 5 is folded around the profile 4.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 6, the strips 14 have a round cross-section, in other words the strips 14 have a cylindrical shape. This is not necessary for the present disclosure, the strips 14 can also have a rectangular cross-section.

[0108] A U-shaped profile 4 made of a heat-conductive material is then put in the spine 5 of the cover 3.

[0109] This is also schematically shown in FIG. 6.

[0110] A binding adhesive 9 is already applied in this profile 4.

[0111] The endpapers 6 of the cover 3 are then folded up such that the spine 5 of the cover 3 is folded around and against the U-shaped profile 4, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0112] In some embodiments, the cover 3 is also pressed against the U-shaped profile 4 such that a good adhesion can be obtained.

[0113] In some embodiments, the spine 5 of the cover 3 is pressed against the profile 4 until the assembly adhesive 11 is at least 50% set, for example, or at least 75% set.

[0114] Care is taken that the amount of assembly adhesive 11 that is applied on the inside of the cover 3 is chosen such that after folding over and pressing the cover 3, the assembly adhesive 11 extends beyond the free edges 10 of the upright arms 8 of the profile 4 and extends over these free edges 10.

[0115] If desired a folding line 15, crease or stamped line can then be made in the cover 3 in order to define the endpapers 6 and the folding line over which they can be folded open, in this way a binding folder 1 is formed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0116] In this way a binding folder 1 is obtained according to the present disclosure.

[0117] In some embodiments, the aforementioned U-shaped profile 4 is produced by departing from a sheet of heat-conductive material, whereby a paper layer 12 covers or is glued, optionally, on at least one side of the sheet.

[0118] A binding adhesive 9 is then applied in the form of a hotmelt adhesive.

[0119] After this the sheet can be shaped into a U-shaped profile 4 such that the binding adhesive 9 is on the inside of the thus shaped U-shaped profile 4.

[0120] Such U-shaped profile 4 can be applied in a binding folder 1 and method according to the present disclosure.

[0121] In FIG. 8, an alternative method is shown to produce a binding folder 1 is shown.

[0122] In this case, the assembly adhesive 11 is applied in the form of three strips 14 at a distance from one another and parallel or approximately parallel to each other in the spine 5 of the cover 3.

[0123] The two outermost strips 14 are applied in the same location as in FIG. 6, i.e. corresponding to the places of the free edges 10 when the spine 5 is folded around the profile 4.

[0124] The third strip 14 is placed between the two outermost strips 14, corresponding to the location of the base 7 of the profile 4.

[0125] When folding up the endpapers 6 of the cover 3, the spine of the cover 3 is folded around and against the U-shaped profile 4.

[0126] The three strips 14 of assembly adhesive 11 will be pressed between the cover 3 and the profile 4, such that it will form a continuous layer of assembly adhesive 11 between them, whereby the assembly adhesive 11 will extend beyond the free edges 10 of the upright arms 8 of the profile 4.

[0127] The third strip 14 will make sure that no gap is present between the two pressed down outermost strips 14 and that no air is present between the U-shaped profile 4 and the cover 3. In this way, a good contact between the cover 3 and the profile 4 by the assembly adhesive 11 is guaranteed.

[0128] The presence of air between the U-shaped profile 4 and the cover 3 should be avoided, because this will limit the heat transport when heating up the binding folder 1 in order to melt the binding adhesive 9.

[0129] This can lead to an insufficient melting of the binding adhesive 9, such that the binding of a bundle of leaves 2 cannot be done correctly or sufficiently good. For a good attachment of the bundle of leaves 2 in the profile 4, the binding adhesive 9 has to be molten completely.

[0130] Therefore, the presence of a gap with no assembly adhesive 11 between the base 7 of the profile 4 and the back 5 of the cover 3, i.e. the presence of air between the base 7 of the profile 4 and the back 5 of the cover 3, has to be avoided.

[0131] By applying the third strip 14, this gap can be avoided. When no such gap is present, a good heat transport or heat conductivity can be guaranteed.

[0132] The present disclosure is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the drawings, but a binding folder according to the present disclosure and a method for making such binding folder can be realised according to different variants without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.