Bookbinding device having a glue cartridge and, a glue cartridge receiving unit

Abstract

A glue cartridge (130) comprises a glue tank (101), a rotatable glue spreading roller (104) connected to the glue tank, which is arranged directly below the glue tank (101) and at least one rotation means (106, 107) usable from outside the glue cartridge (130) for rotating the glue spreading roller (104). The glue spreading roller (104) of the glue cartridge is designed so that the form of the glue spreading roller (104) prevents glue from escaping from the glue tank (101) when the glue spreading roller (104) is in place and takes glue from the glue tank (101) when the glue spreading roller (104) is rotated. A block (1360) of sheets to be bound to form a book is set in a bookbinding device (1300), and glue is spread on the spine (1362) of the block (1360) in such a way that glue is obtainable from an exchangeable glue cartridge (130) by using a receiving unit (150) for the glue cartridge (130).

Claims

1. A bookbinding device (1300) in which a block (1360) of sheets to be bound to form a book is placeable, and with the aid of which glue is spreadable on the spine (1362) of the block (1360), the bookbinding device (1300) comprising: a glue cartridge (130) comprising: a glue tank (101) that is essentially in the form of a protrusion from a platform (110) of the glue cartridge and where at least two sides of the platform (110) have a fastening device (102, 103, 108) to allow the shape-limited fastening of the glue cartridge (130); a rotatable glue spreading roller (104) connected to the glue tank, which is arranged directly below the glue tank (101); and at least one rotation means (105, 106, 107) usable from outside the glue cartridge (130) for rotating the glue spreading roller (104); wherein the rotatable glue spreading roller (104) is configured so that the form of the glue spreading roller (104) prevents glue from escaping from the glue tank (101) when the glue spreading roller (104) is in place and takes glue from the glue tank (101) when the glue spreading roller (104) is rotated; the bookbinding device (1300) further including a receiving unit (150) for the glue cartridge (130), wherein the receiving unit (150) comprises: means (156, 157) for receiving and fastening the glue cartridge (130) to said receiving unit (150) in such a way that the glue spreading roller (104) is accessible from below, and thus allows gluing from above of the spine of a sheet block that is to be bound; and at least one rotatable converter (153, 240, 152, 158) for transferring motion to at least one rotating means (105, 106, 107) in the glue cartridge (130); and wherein glue is taken from the exchangeable glue cartridge (130) by using the receiving unit (150) for the glue cartridge (130).

2. The bookbinding device (1300) of claim 1, wherein the means (105, 106, 107) for rotating the rotatable glue spreading roller (104) comprises a shaft (105) and at least one shape-locking drive member (107) arranged with the shaft (105).

3. The bookbinding device (1300) of claim 1, wherein the glue tank (101) is essentially in the form of a cylinder, a cone or a truncated cone.

4. The bookbinding device (1300) of claim 1, further including a cap or a cover in order to close the glue cartridge.

5. The bookbinding device (1300) of claim 1, wherein the glue cartridge includes coding to express the glue cartridge type.

6. The bookbinding device (1300) of claim 1 further including at least one heating unit (350) to heat the glue tank (101).

7. The bookbinding device (1300) of claim 6 in which the heating unit (350) includes at least one heat transfer unit (410) which comprises a shell (411) and radial segments (412, 413), and which is configured so that the glue cartridge is off-center in the heating unit.

8. The bookbinding device (1300) of claim 6, in which the heating unit (410) comprises a hinged locking device (380) that is configured so that the locking device prevents the removal in a lateral direction of at least one heat transfer unit (350) and/or glue tank (101).

9. The bookbinding device (1300) of claim 6, in which the heating unit is formed by fastening two identical parts (380) to each other, and wherein at least one heat transfer unit (350) and/or glue tank (101) is locked in a lateral direction.

10. The bookbinding device (1300) of claim 1, further including means to express the coding in the glue cartridge (130).

11. A bookbinding device (1300) according to claim 1, wherein the glue spreading unit (1310) is movable in a backwards and forwards direction and which is configured to rotate the glue spreading roller (104) of the exchangeable glue cartridge (130) when the glue spreading unit (1310) is moved backwards and forwards, in which case the glue in the glue tank (101) can be spread on the spine of the block (1360) of sheets.

12. A bookbinding device (1300) according to claim 1 further including at least one heating unit (350) configured to heat the glue tank (101), wherein the at least one heating unit (350) includes at least one heat transfer unit (410) which comprises a shell (411) and preferably radial segments (412, 413), and which is most advantageously configured so that the glue cartridge is off-center in the heating unit; wherein the receiving unit (150) of the glue cartridge (130) further includes means to express the coding in the glue cartridge (130); and wherein the bookbinding device (1300) is configured to adjust i) either a temperature and/or a heating power of the glue tank (101), or ii) a temperature and/or a heating power of the heating unit (410), or iii) a temperature and/or a heating power of both the glue tank and the heating unit as specified in the means to express the coding of the glue cartridge (130).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a glue cartridge and a glue cartridge receiving unit according to the present invention;

(3) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a glue cartridge and a glue cartridge receiving unit with a heating unit;

(4) FIG. 5 shows a closed gluing head;

(5) FIG. 6 shows an end view of the glue cartridge of the invention;

(6) FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the glue cartridge according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 8 is a top view of the glue cartridge of the invention;

(8) FIG. 9 is a cross-section along lines IX-IX of the glue cartridge presented in FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 10 is a cross-section along lines X-X of the glue cartridge presented in FIG. 7;

(10) FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an assembly diagram of the gluing head;

(11) FIG. 13 shows a bookbinding device which has a gluing head containing a glue cartridge and a glue cartridge receiving unit according to the present invention;

(12) FIG. 14a is an exploded view of the glue cartridge and the glue cartridge receiving unit of the invention;

(13) FIG. 14b is a sequential side view of the glue cartridge receiving unit showing the advancement of the bolt and spring; and

(14) FIG. 15 is an assembly diagram of a glue cartridge equipped with a cover or a cap.

(15) The same reference numbers refer to the same technical features in all drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(16) FIGS. 1 and 2 present glue cartridge 130 and glue cartridge receiving unit 150. Gluing head 100 includes both glue cartridge 130 and glue cartridge receiving unit 150.

(17) Glue cartridge 130 includes glue tank 101. Glue tank 101 may contain either PUR glue or EVA hot melt (glue 901, see FIG. 9). Glue cartridge 130 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is closed on top; in other words, cover 200 is a fixed part of glue cartridge 130.

(18) In addition to this, glue cartridge 130 includes glue spreading roller 104. Glue spreading roller 104 is a part of shaft 105 which includes shaft surface 106 for bearing. The bearing is implemented (see FIG. 15) by bearings 109 (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 9). Sliding bearings or cylinder liners are most advantageously used as bearings 109. The surface of glue spreading roller 104 is toothed by, for example, making grooves and/or other suitable surface formations in it, such as protrusions, or their combinations. Bearings 109 are set tightly against shaft surface 106 of shaft 105 and thus act as seals. The wall strength of bearings 109 is greater than the depth of the area between the adjacent teeth or protrusions of glue spreading roller 104. Bearings 109 are set tightly against the ends of glue spreading roller 104 (in other words, the toothed part of shaft 105) on both sides.

(19) The outer diameter of bearings 109, the outer diameter of glue spreading roller 104 and the inner surface of base 111 of the glue spreading roller are approximately the same in their diameters in order to get such a compact structure that no glue 901 can escape from glue tank 101 by mistake. However, the dimensioning is such that glue spreading roller 104 is rotatable at the working temperature of the glue.

(20) The other end of shaft 105 has teeth 107 which, in combination with the grooves left between teeth 107, allow the rotation of shaft 105 by a shape-limited power transmission mechanism.

(21) FIG. 10 shows in more detail platform 110 of the glue cartridge, base 111 of the glue spreading roller, lead-thru channel 114, as well as tooth 112 and teeth intervals 113. Platform 110 and glue tank 101 can be implemented as a single piece or, as shown in FIG. 15, in two or more separate parts.

(22) On the edges of glue cartridge 130 are flanges 102 and 103 separated by groove 108.

(23) Glue cartridge receiving unit 150 has two arms 155. In addition, glue cartridge receiving unit 150 includes flange 156 on each arm. Flange 156 and groove 157 are dimensioned to allow glue cartridge 130 to be slid into receiving unit 150 by inserting flange 156 into groove 108. Thus flange 156 and flanges 102, 103 hold glue cartridge 130 in place in receiving unit 150 and prevent glue cartridge 130 from falling.

(24) Arms 155 are attached to the back support by fastening parts 201, such as bolts, most advantageously through lead-ins 202 made in the back support.

(25) Glue cartridge 130 can be attached to glue cartridge receiving unit 150 by suitable fastening parts, such as bolts (see FIG. 8), through holes 801.

(26) Glue cartridge receiving unit 150 includes a converter which consists of drive mechanism 153 (most advantageously a gear or a sprocket) and shape part 158, which are connected securely to each other via shaft hole 152 in such a way that drive mechanism 153 is accessible from outside of the receiving unit 150.

(27) Glue cartridge receiving unit 150 also has thru-holes 154 for attaching heating unit 350 to receiving unit 150.

(28) FIG. 3 presents gluing head 100 to which heating unit 350 has been joined, thus forming ready-for-use gluing head 300.

(29) Heating unit 350 comprises two halves which are joined to each other by hinges 301. Hinges 301 are attached to the halves by attachments such as, for example, impact pins or bolts.

(30) In the example in FIG. 3, each half contains heating connector 320 with a first terminal 321 and a second terminal 322. It is also possible to implement heating unit 350 in such a way that there is only one heating connector 320.

(31) Heating unit 350 includes a resistor between connecting terminals 321, 322. When a voltage is applied across connecting terminals 321, 322 so that current flows through the resistor, heating unit 350 heats to the extent that glue 901 in glue tank 101 melts. Heating unit 350 is preferably made of aluminum.

(32) Heating unit 350 includes latch locking. Loop 312 is placed over lock pin 313 so that loop 312 comes into groove 314 of lock pin 313. After this lock latch 311 is snapped shut to tighten loop 312 between lock latch 311 and the lock pin.

(33) Heating unit 350 is ready for use and will heat after the heating connector is connected.

(34) If there is a desire to heat glue 901 faster or to reduce the temperature or power requirement of heating unit 350, heat transfer unit 410 can be used. The heat transfer unit comprises most advantageously shell 411 and preferably also radial segments 413 separated by walls 412.

(35) Glue tank 101 can be located off-center with respect to heat transfer unit 410.

(36) In designing the thermal power requirement of heating unit 350, it will be sufficient if the center of glue tank 101 is heated up to the working temperature of the used glue 901. Because the diameter e of the cylindrical glue tank 101 is small compared to the dimensions of heat transfer unit 410, it is possible to lead glue from heating unit 350 to glue tank 101 from every direction. Diameter e is as big as, or bigger than, the depth k of lead-thru channel 114. The toothed portion of the glue spreading roller 104 has as its length approximately the same as the length of the lead-thru channel 114.

(37) FIGS. 11 and 12 show in more detail the attaching of heating unit 350 to glue cartridge receiving unit 150. Fastening parts 1101 such as bolts, to be installed preferably in oversized thru-holes 154, are installed in fastening devices 1105 such as threaded bushings. When compression springs 1103 are installed in connection with fastening parts 1101 between heating unit 350 and glue cartridge receiving unit 150, the attachment can be realized as pre-stressed, in which case it is possible through the spring-loading to get heat exchanger 410 more firmly against the inner surface of heating unit 350 in order to improve heat conduction. Alternatively, if the diameter of glue tank 101 is so big that heat exchanger 410 is not used, it is possible to get the surface of glue tank 101 (e.g. the cylinder shell in the case presented in FIG. 3) more firmly against the inner surface of heating unit 350.

(38) When glue cartridge 130 is installed in glue cartridge receiving unit 150, and when heating unit 350 has been attached to the thus formed gluing head 100 in order to form heating unit 300, it is possible to place heat transfer unit 410 on top of glue cartridge 130, thanks to hole 1201 of the heat transfer unit.

(39) Heat transfer unit 410 can also be installed around glue cartridge 130 in advance, before glue cartridge 130 is installed in the receiving unit.

(40) FIG. 5 presents the thus formed ready-for-use gluing unit 50 after the latch mechanism has been closed.

(41) FIG. 13 presents bookbinding device 1300. The use of bookbinding device 1300 is started by installing gluing unit 50 below protective cover 1315 and connecting power plug 1391 in cable 1392 to the electricity network. After this, main switch 1375 in control panel 1350 is switched from the OFF position to the ON position. The current flowing in cable 1392 heats the resistance in heating unit 350 and melts glue 901 in glue tank 101.

(42) Bookbinding device 1300 is equipped with operating lever 1380. The principle behind the operation of operating lever 1380 and the operation mechanism of the related bookbinding device is presented in more detail in patent EP 1 478 519 B1, which is included herein by reference.

(43) More specific details on the method of using bookbinding device 1300 are apparent in the following video:

(44) http://fastbind.com/images/stories/videos/elite_s oft_cover.wmv

(45) Block 1360 of sheets that are to be bound is placed on top of book cover 1361 in bookbinding device 1300.

(46) The edge of block 1360 is aligned against edge stopper 1340. After this, block 1360 is locked into place by turning lever 1371, in which case movably installed press beam 1370 presses block 1360 against turntable 1390. After this, by further turning lever 1371, press beam 1370 is locked in relation to turntable 1390, whereupon block 1360 also stays in place in relation to turntable 1390.

(47) After this, lever 1380 is moved in the direction of arrow b. As a result of this, turntable 1390 is turned to a position such that the back edge 1362 of block 1360 is on the route of the backwards and forwards-movable (arrow c) gluing head 1310. Gluing head 1310 can be moved along slide rail 1320. The movement is preferably implemented by using control means 1330 such as a knob. The system also has a power transmission means, such as a tooth chain, which rotates drive member 153 most advantageously in a shape-limited way. The power transmission means causes drive member 153 to always rotate when gluing head 1310 is pushed in either direction along slide rail 1320.

(48) While rotating, drive mechanism 153 rotates shape part 158 which, as described above, rotates shaft 105 (shaft 105 and glue spreading roller 104 are in fact most advantageously implemented as a single integral piece), in which case glue spreading roller 104 rotates with it and takes glue from glue tank 101 and spreads it on the back edge 1362 of block 1360. When the drive mechanism remains in place, i.e. glue spreading roller 104 is not rotating, the form of glue spreading roller 104 prevents glue from escaping from glue tank 101.

(49) Bookbinding device 1300 is also equipped with drip tray 1355 in case any glue left at the bottom of glue spreading roller 104 drips or leaks from glue spreading roller 104.

(50) When spine 1362 of block 1360 has been glued, operating lever 1380 is moved in the direction of arrow a, so that turntable 1390 and block 1360 rotate against cover 1361. By pressing operating lever 1380 further in the direction of arrow a, the mechanism in bookbinding device 1300 presses the edge of the cover, from the edge on the side of spine 1362, securely to the bound block in the way described in patent 1 478 519 B1.

(51) After this, the ready book is released by moving lever 1371 and it is possible for the bookbinding device to bind the next block of sheets to each other and to a cover.

(52) The improvement in the bookbinding device 1300 presented in FIG. 13 is that glue cartridges 130 can be used in it. Glue cartridges 130 are installed for this purpose in gluing unit 50 or alternatively in gluing head 100 or 300. This makes it possible to change the type of glue used on the fly or, at the most, with a small interruption. It is possible to change glue cartridge 130 even when ready-to-be-bound block 1360 is in place in bookbinding device 1300.

(53) FIG. 14a presents the coding included in glue cartridge 130 and glue cartridge receiving unit 150. Recess 1400 can be made in bearings casing 110 of glue cartridge 130. The depth of recess 1400 is f. When pin or bolt 1403, pre-stressed by spring 1401, is taken through the back part of glue cartridge receiving unit 150 in such a way that spring 1401 is pressed against the back of pin or bolt 1403 and glue cartridge receiving unit 150 and seeks to push pin or bolt 1403 out, the position of pin or bolt 1403 will depend on depth f, in the case that a glue cartridge 130 has been installed.

(54) By using the presented configuration it is possible to identify four different situations which are presented in FIG. 14b. I) f<1st threshold value II) f>1st threshold value and f<2nd threshold value III) f>2nd threshold value and f<3rd threshold value IV) f>3rd threshold value

(55) Instead of or in addition to the presented mechanical coding, it is possible to use some other kind of coding mechanism. The coding presented herein is robust, however, in the sense that there is little possibility for operating errors.

(56) Situation I can correspond with the first type of glue cartridge (e.g. EVA hot melt, one-time use), situation II with the second type (e.g. EVA hot melt, multiple use), situation III with the third type (e.g. PUR glue, one-time use), and situation IV with the fourth type (e.g. PUR glue, multiple use).

(57) FIG. 15 presents a modified glue cartridge equipped with detachable cap or cover 1500 instead of fixed cover 200. Cover 1500 is screwed securely onto thread 1503. Glue tank 101 is screwed from thread 1502 at the bottom to thread 1501 on bearings casing 110.

(58) During glue spreading, glue spreading roller 104 feeds an amount of replacement air into glue tank 101 that corresponds to the glue that glue spreading roller 104 transfers from glue tank 101 to spine 1362 of block 1360 that is to be bound or that otherwise exits from glue spreading roller 104 by dripping, for example. Thus, no such vacuum will be formed in glue tank 101 that would complicate the exit of glue from the glue tank. At its most advantageous, the amount of replacement air will correspond with the amount of glue that has been transferred to back edge 1362 of block 1360 or has dripped into drip tray 1355.

(59) The above-presented arrangements being compared with the arrangement in the EZ Clean Tank system, in which the glue is in an open vessel and is thus susceptible to humidity, it is now possible to reduce the glue's susceptibility to humidity, since now only glue spreading roller 104, which is outside tank 101, is susceptible to humidity.

(60) Glue tank 130 can also be manufactured from metalized film (in the same way as bag-in-box wines, in which the wine is in a wine bag), in which case glue 901 can be removed from glue tank 101 without replacement air. This makes a different type of configuration of glue spreading roller 104 possible.

(61) Glue cartridge 130 can also be heated beforehand (for example, even up to the glue's working temperature or near it, or, on the other hand, for example to halfway between the temperature of the surroundings and the glue's working temperature, or to any point whatsoever between them) at a preheating station located in connection with or outside binding device 1300. At its most advantageous, such a preheating station will have a heating unit corresponding to heating unit 350, and a receiving unit corresponding to receiving unit 150. As a result of preheating, glue cartridge 130 will be more rapidly available and it will be possible to continue the use of binding device 1300 without interruption. In the method for speeding up the adhesive binding of a book, glue tank 101 of glue cartridge 130 will be heated prior to installing glue cartridge 130 in bookbinding device 1300. The heated glue cartridge 130 will then be installed in the binding device, preferably ready-installed in either of gluing heads 100, 300 or in gluing unit 50.

(62) All parts of glue cartridge 130, except bearings 109, can be made from aluminum. Shaft 105 and glue spreading roller 104 are most advantageously implemented as extruded aluminum profiles. In this case, the extrusion is done using the profile of glue spreading roller 104 and the profile material will be lathed away to form shaft surface 106 (teeth or protrusions away, in addition to which shaft 105 will be thinned with respect to the outside of glue spreading roller 104).

(63) Gluing unit 50 or gluing head 100, 300 will be removed from bookbinding device 1300 after use. If the part to be removed is hot, the removal can be done using a separate grip or knob.

(64) The invention should not be understood as being limited only to the attached claims, but should be understood as including all their legal equivalents.

(65) Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents.