SERVO CONTROLLED STITCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention relates to a servo controlled stitching apparatus that comprises a servo controlled wire pulling means (4) for pulling the required length of wire for stitching bunch of paper sheets. Said pulling means (4) comprises pulling roller (11) having wire retaining groove (11a) for guiding wire extending from the spool (2) towards the stitching head (1). It also comprises pressure roller (13) that rotates against pulling roller (11) for pulling the wire (16) from the spool (2). The length of wire to be pulled is predefined in the controller means which is communicated with the servo motor (7) that rotates said rollers (11, 13) until the predetermined length of wire is pulled. The stitching head (1) utilize the wire (16) of pulled length without rotating the spool itself to avoid pulling load and to apply even stapling on the bunch of paper sheets.

Claims

1. A servo controlled stitching apparatus comprising: at least one wire retaining spool (2); at least one stitching head (1); means for said stitching head (1) for feeding wire (16) delivered to it from said spools (2) and for cutting pulled wire into desired section and for applying said cut section to a successive bunch of paper sheets for stitching; wire pulling means (4) in the path of the wire (16) being delivered from said spool (2) to the stitching head (1) for pulling a wire (16) from the spool (2) to form a slacked portion (17); wherein said slacked wire (17) defines the length of wire (16) being pulled by said wire pulling means (4); wherein said wire pulling means (4) comprises a pair of rollers (11, 13) in closest proximity at their periphery rotatably mounted on shafts (12, 14) which are substantially parallel, means for rotating (7) one of said shaft (11, 13), means for applying pressure (15) across the section of wire (16) located between said rollers (11, 13) and a controller means wherein said slacked portion (17) changeably defined is communicated with rotating means (7); wherein one of said rollers (11, 13) is formed with at least one groove (11a) along its circular periphery for protrusively locating and guiding said wire (16); wherein said wire (16) is pulled by passing between said rollers (11, 13) while pressure is applied between diametrically opposed points on the periphery of said wire (16); wherein said rotating means (7) rotates any of said rollers (11, 13) until slacked wire (17) defined in the controller means is pulled from the spool (2).

2. A method for operating servo controlled stitching apparatus comprises of following steps: a) delivering wire (16) from a spool (2) to a stitching head (1) by extending between the rollers (11, 13); b) protrusively and diametrically guiding said wire (16) from the groove (11a) formed on the periphery of any of said rollers (11, 13); c) defining length of slacked wire (17) in the controller means; d) pulling said wire (16) by rotating said rollers (11, 13) by the rotating means (7) until slacked wire (17) is formed; e) stopping said rollers (11, 13) to rotate; f) applying said slacked wire (17) for stitching on bunch of paper sheets by stitching head (1); g) performing steps a) to f) for stitching next bunch of paper sheets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Further objects, advantages and features of the apparatus according to the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a particular embodiment, given by say of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the conventional wire stitching apparatus.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of servo controlled stitching apparatus in non-operating condition according to present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the servo controlled wire pulling means for pulling wire according to present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of servo controlled stitching apparatus in operating condition according to present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompany drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments, as depicted in different figures as described above and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

[0018] Before explaining the present invention, it is to be noted that the stitching apparatus according to present invention is described herein by implying that said apparatus are installed in the reel to book binding machine. However, it is within the scope of present invention to utilize said apparatus independently. It is to be also noted that, in the drawing, identical reference number identify similar element and acts.

[0019] Now as illustrated in FIG. 2, the servo controlled stitching apparatus according to present invention comprises a top frame (3), a servo controlled wire pulling means (4) disposed below said frame (3) and a lower platform (5) located below the pulling means (4) that receives the bunch of paper sheets to be stitched by conveying means (not shown).

[0020] Referring continuous with FIG. 2, said top frame (3) comprises a plurality of linearly arranged rotatable wire retaining spools (2) whereon stapling material (16), for example, wire (shown in FIG. 4), is wound. Said spools (2) are rotated with respect to an elongated spindle (2a) being longitudinally and centrally extended through the spools (2) when the wire (16) is pulled. In said embodiment, for the sake of understanding, only one wire is shown extending from the spool (2) as shown in FIG. 4. Practically, said wires (16) are fed vertically and parallely downward from respective spools (2) by passing through their corresponding guide channel (6).

[0021] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c shows the servo controlled wire pulling means (4) in greater details. Now as shown in FIG. 3a, said servo controlled wire pulling means (4) comprises a programmable servo motor (7) being connected to a gearbox (8) through any conventional coupler (9) for controlling the speed of the servo motor (7) and located at either side of plate (10) as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of wire pulling rollers (11) being rotatably and longitudinally located on a common shaft (12) (shown in FIG. 3a) drivably extended from the gearbox (8) and rotated through said servo motor (7). Each said pulling roller (11) comprises at least one circumferential wire receiving groove (11a) for guiding wire (16) therethrough being extended downwardly from the respective spool (2).

[0022] Said wire pulling means (4) comprises a plurality of free turning pressure roller (13) operating against the respective wire pulling roller (11) and longitudinally and rotatably loaded on an elongated rod (14) extended parallely with respect to the shaft (12) shown in FIG. 3a. Said servo motor (7) is communicated with a controller means (not shown) i.e. PLC (programmable logic controller), HMI (Human Machine Interface) wherein required length of wire to be pulled for stitching operation is predefined and accordingly said servo motor (7) and thereby the pulling roller (11) is operated. Hence, according to the thickness of workpiece (bunch of paper sheets), the length of wire to be pulled is predetermined in the controller means by user and accordingly said wire (16) is pulled from the spool (2) by said wire pulling means (4).

[0023] Now, as shown in FIG. 3b, the groove (11a) of each pulling roller (11) is configured such that about half of diameter of said wire (16) received therein and remaining portion of diameter is projected therefrom and remains in positive contact with pressure roller (13) so that the wire (16) is guided by the groove (11a) in the pulling roller (11) and is held under the pressure roller (13). This groove (11a) allows the wire (16) to diametrically protrude out of the surface of the roller (11) so that the wire (16) remain in contact with the surface of the pressure roller (13) and thus be gripped between these rollers. Said pressure roller (13) is loaded with spring (15) (shown in FIG. 3c) that applies constant pressure on the section of wire (16) between the pulling roller (11) and the pressure roller (13). This configuration ensures the positive pulling of wire (16).

[0024] It is to be noted that, in present embodiment, only one roller (pulling roller) (11) is grooved. However, it is within the scope of present invention that the pressure roll (13) may also be grooved if it is desired to make the adjustment more sensitive. Further, it is within the scope of present invention to rotate said elongated rod (14) by said motor (7) instead of said shaft (12) to pull the wire (16).

[0025] Now as shown in FIG. 2, said lower platform (5) comprises a plurality of linearly arranged stitching heads (1) wherein wires (16) extended from the respective pulling rollers (11) are properly threaded therein (respective stitching head). Said stitching heads (1) are perpendicularly applied on the bunch of the paper sheets along the conveying path of the paper sheets. Said stitching head (1) comprises a staple-forming and driving mechanism for advancing said wire (16) therethrough along the longitudinal axis thereof and performing stapling operation upon the pulled wire received from respective wire pulling roller (11). The sheets to be stitched are positioned beneath each stitching head (1) wherein the wire is cut and then driven into the paper sheets for stapling.

[0026] It is to be noted that the number of spools, wire pulling rollers, pressure rollers and stitching heads are determined according to the number of product to be stitched. Though said stitching apparatus according to present invention is automated, it is within the scope of present invention to utilize the sensor element for detecting the presence of workpiece (paper sheets) for actuating stitching operation automatically.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the method for operating the servo controlled stitching apparatus according to present invention is described in detail. Initially the wire (16) is kept in uniform tension throughout its extension from the spool (2) to the stitching head (1) (wire (16) including shown in doted line). During working, as depicted in FIG. 4, when the bunch of the paper sheets is sensed to be positioned below the stitching head (1) by the sensor, said servo motor (7) is actuated that drives the wire pulling roller (11) to be rotated through the shaft (12) according to pulling length of wire predefined in the controller means. As the pulling roller (11) rotates, the pressure roller (13) rotates by applying pressure on the wire (16) whereby the required length of the wire (16) is pulled from the respective spool (2) to form a slacked portion (17). After forming slacked portion (17), said servo motor (7) stops to rotate the pulling roller (11) by controlling means.

[0028] By said configuration, the wire extended between the spool (2) and the pulling roller (11) is kept taut by said pressure roller (13) and predetermined length of wire (16) is pulled that forms the slacked portion (17) of wire (16). Said pulled wire (slacked portion) (17) will yield sufficient length of wire (16) to staple by said stitching head (1) without causing the spool to revolve at this moment. After forming slacked portion (17), said stitching head (1) pulls and applies said slacked portion (17) of wire (16) on the bunch of paper sheets. After completion of stitching operation, said wire (16) is tighten as initially and again pulled by the pulling means (4) for stitching the next bunch of paper sheets in the same manner as described above.

[0029] From forgoing description, it is seen that said stitching apparatus according to present invention enables the stitching head (1) to utilize only slacked portion (17) for stapling without pulling wire from the spool (2) itself. Thus, unlike conventional stitching apparatus, the stitching head (1) doesn't deal directly with the spool (2) for pulling the wire (16) that protects the stitching head (1) from the pulling load. Further, said configuration according to present invention compels the stitching head (1) to utilize only slacked portion (17) of the wire (16) that maintain the quality of stapling in each cycle thereby the difficulties like short length and excessive length of pinning are overcame.

[0030] The invention has been explained in relation to specific embodiment. It is inferred that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited or restrictive thereto. Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. All substitution, alterations and modification of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims are to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined not with reference to the above description but should be determined with reference to appended claims along with full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0031] Stitching Head (1)

[0032] Wire Retaining Spools (2)

[0033] Spindle (2a)

[0034] Top Frame (3)

[0035] Servo Controlled Wire Pulling Means (4)

[0036] Lower Platform (5)

[0037] Guide Channel (6)

[0038] Servo Motor (7)

[0039] Gearbox (8)

[0040] Conventional Coupler (9)

[0041] Plate (10)

[0042] Wire Pulling Rollers (11)

[0043] Wire Receiving Groove (11a)

[0044] Common Shaft (12)

[0045] Pressure Roller (13)

[0046] Elongated Rod (14)

[0047] Spring (15)

[0048] Wire (16)

[0049] Slacked Portion (17)