A method for assembling a book

Abstract

 The invention relates to a device for treating books comprising a frame and two belt conveyors, whose proximal faces are located in parallel planes adjustable towards and away from one another, said faces being fixed in the transverse direction in the plane of each face. The device according to the invention comprises a roller conveyor comprising a large number of freely rotatable rollers (11), whose parallel rotary axes are at right angles to the planes of the proximal faces of the belt conveyors, the shafts being displaceable by spring load towards said faces.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for treating books comprising a frame and two belt conveyors, whose proximal faces are located in parallel planes adjustable away from and towards one another, said faces being fixed in the transverse direction lying in the plane determined by each belt part. Such a device is known in bookbinding and may be combined with members for applying glue to the back of a book, members for cambering a book block or members for gluing a cover around the block. In the latter case the cover is usually fixed by so-called hot-melt adhesives, since these adhesives have substantially immediately adequate adhesive force to retain the cover on the block. Since these adhesives have disadvantages such as stiffnes and brittleness it is sometimes preferred to use other kinds of glue such as vinyl emulsion glue, but the latter requires rubbing down the covers after they have left the machine applying them to the book blocks. For this rubbing treatment the books are taken out of the device and placed in a press, in which the books are subjected to a given pressure for a sufficiently long time for the glue to acquire adequate adhesive power for holding the cover around the book block. Subsequently the books are taken out of the press and dried.

[0002] This pressing operation requires much labour and usually constitutes the limiting factor in the production rate.

[0003] The invention provides a device of the kind set forth in the preamble, which permits of carrying out the rubbing operation at the same rate as that of the preceding operations and also of carrying out said treatment in a continuous process after the preceding treatments. For this purpose said device is characterized by a roller conveyor having a large number of freely rotatable rollers, the parallel rotary axes of which are at right angles to the planes determined by the proximal faces of the belt conveyors, the rollers being spring-loaded for displacement towards said belt parts.

[0004] In order to permit of constantly exerting a heavy pressure on the backs of the books the rollers of the roller conveyor are preferably loaded by separate springs.

[0005] With regard to potential variations of the spring force with time, the spring load is adjustable in a preferred embodiment so that a variation of the spring force can be compensated for.

[0006] A particularly satisfactory effect is obtained when the pressure exerted by the rollers on the back of the book gradually increases during the travel through the device, to which end the spring tension or the stiffness of the 'spring load is caused to increase in the direction of transport.

[0007] The belt conveyor can be fixed in the transverse direction in the usual manner by providing the belt on the backside with one or more extensions, which are guided along guides extending in the direction of length of the conveyor. In a very simple embodiment, however, each belt conveyor is formed by a number of V-ropes guided along correspondingly grooved, axially fixed supporting rollers. In this connection it should be noted that the term "belt conveyor" is to be understood herein any conveyor determining a flat transporting face so-that the belt may be formed by a cast or a perforated flat belt of flexible material, by hinged, flat plates or by a plurality of parallel ropes or narrow strips.

[0008] For matching various thickness of the books at least one belt conveyor is fastened in the frame so as to be displaceable towards and away from the other. In order to obtain sufficient clamping force in the case of poorly critical setting of the distance between the two proximal faces of the belt conveyors the supporting rollers of at least one of said belt conveyors are resiliently journalled in the frame in a direction at right angles to the supported belt part.

[0009] The device according to the invention may be arranged either as a separate device after the device for building the book blocks and for applying covers or be integrated therein .

[0010] Therefore, the invention also relates to a device for applying to cover to a book block comprising a conveyor for supplying a book block and members for folding a cover around said book block, said device being characterized by a device of the kind set forth arranges after the members for folding a cover around the book block.

[0011] The invention will be described more fully with reference to a drawing of a preferred embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of the device in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is plan view and

Fig. 3 is a front view, some parts being broken away.

[0012] The figures show an elongated frame 1, in which four vertical shafts 2 are journalled. To the top ends of said shafts are keyed grooved reversing rollers 3, along which V ropes 4 extend pairwise in the direction of length of the frame. The proximal parts of the two sets of V-ropes are supported on the rear side by grooved supporting rollers 5, whose vertical rotary shafts are journalled in longitudinal carriers 6, 7. One longitudinal carrier 6 is rigidly connected with the frame 1, whereas the other carrier 7 is slidable in the frame 1 in the transverse direction and is loaded by oompression springs 8 towards the longitudinal carrier 6. In this way books can be clamped with a given force between the two belt conveyors.

[0013] In the embodiment shown the frame 1 comprised two parts 1¹ and 1'', which are relatively displaceable by means of screw spindles 9 in the transverse direction and which support each a belt conveyor, so that the distance between the two sets of V-ropes can be adapted to the thicknesses of the books to be treated. One of each pair of reversing rollers 3 can be driven by a motor 10 common to the pair.

[0014] Below the two proximal faces of the belt conveyors the frame 1 comprises a roller conveyor or roller track formed by a large number of freely rotatable rollers 11, whose parallel rotary axes are orthogonal to the parallel planes of said belt parts. The shafts are movable in vertical slits in the frame part 1 and are upwardly loaded by compression springs 12. The tension of these springs is adjustable by means of set scews 13.

[0015] When a book block with a cover applied thereto is passed by the V-ropes through the device, the back directed downwards is constantly exposed to pressure by the rollers 11. The rate of passage and the length of the device should match the kind of glue in a manner such that the glue has obtained adequate adhesive power., when emerging from the device, for retaining the cover on the book block.

Claims

1. Device for treating books comprising a frame and two belt conveyors, whose proximal faces are located in parallel planes adjustable towards and away from one another, said faces being fixed in the transverse direction in the plane of each face characterized by a roller conveyor comprising a large number of freely rotatable rollers (11), whose parallel rotary axes are at right angles to the planes of the proximal faces of the belt conveyors, the shafts being displaceable by spring load towards said faces.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rollers (11) of the roller conveyor are loaded by separate springs (12).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring load is adjustable.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the spring load or the stiffness of the spring load increases in the direction of the transport.

5. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims characterized in that each belt conveyor is formed by a plurality of V-ropes (4) guided along correspondingly grooved supporting rollers (5) fixed in an axial direction in the frame (1).

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the supporting rollers of at least one belt conveyor are resiliently journalled in the frame in a direction orthogonal to the face supported thereby.

7. A device for applying a cover to a book block comprising a conveyor for supplying a book block and members for folding a cover around said book block characterized by a device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims arranged in the direction of conveyance beyond the members folding the cover around the book block.

Drawing