Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention finds application in the field of bookbinding equipment and
particularly relates to a fluid or semifluid adhesive delivering head for binding
machines designed for binding sheet elements in blocks, such as blocks of paper sheets
for books, agendas, albums or the like.
[0002] The invention further relates to a binding machine incorporating such adhesive delivering
head.
Background art
[0003] As is known, in the bookbinding art, devices are used for joining blocks of adjacent
sheet elements, which have a back and an outer cover.
[0004] For instance, the sheet elements may be sheets of printed or blank paper of various
sizes, which are bound with a more rigid cover to form books, catalogs, notebooks
or the like.
[0005] Particularly, one of the most widely used techniques to form the binding consists
in joining the cover to the block by applying a preset amount of adhesive along its
back.
[0006] Typically, the step of applying adhesive to the block is carried out by adhesive
delivering heads incorporated in machines that implement the whole bookbinding process.
[0007] It will be understood that proper binding requires uniform distribution of the adhesive
all over the back surface, with no portion thereof being left free of adhesive.
[0008] A back with adhesive-free or poorly adhesive areas may cause failed local adhesion
of the cover to the sheet elements, and consequent removal of the latter from the
cover, thereby affecting the binding.
[0009] In an attempt to improve adhesive distribution on the back of a block, applicator
devices have been developed, which are designed for calibrated, uniform delivery of
a predetermined amount of adhesive.
[0010] For instance,
US 4,512,945 discloses an adhesive delivering head having an adhesive collecting chamber connected
to an external tank through a feed pump.
[0011] The collecting chamber is held in a supporting frame having a seat designed for passage
of the block, with a delivery slot formed therein having a plurality of outlet holes.
[0012] The collecting chamber is put in communication with the holes through a passage whereat
two opposite movable piston-like pressure members are located, which have sealing
elements for conveying the adhesive to the outlet holes, while controlling the delivered
amount.
[0013] As the blocks pass over the slot, the pressure elements move and the adhesive flows
out of the holes.
[0014] A first drawback of this solution is that the delivery of adhesive through the holes
is affected by any water hammer occurring due the motion of the pressure means.
[0015] Particularly, the stick slip motion of the pressure members causes discontinuous
feeding through the holes and hence uneven delivery of adhesive to the back of the
book.
[0016] A further drawback is that the total amount of delivered adhesive only corresponds
to the desired amount if the movement of the pressure members is synchronized. This
will require the provision of expensive devices for controlling the movement of the
pressure means.
[0017] A further drawback is that the collecting chamber contains a considerable amount
of adhesive, and that cleaning of the device requires discharge of such amount of
adhesive and use of relatively large amount of cleaning liquid.
[0018] Furthermore, the amount of excess adhesive delivered through the slot may contact
other external parts of the device, and cause fouling thereof.
[0019] Another considerable drawback is that the pressure members have sealing elements
that cause glue leakages along the collecting chamber during movement thereof, resulting
in a reduction of the amount of delivered adhesive.
[0020] US 5,129,772 discloses a further adhesive delivering head for binding machines in which the head,
in a first configuration, comprises a seat for passage of the back of the block to
be bound, in which seat a slot is formed to define an outlet for the adhesive.
[0021] The latter flows out of the slot through a single feeding passage.
[0022] This configuration does not allow uniform distribution of the delivered adhesive
all along the slot, and will result in less than optimal block binding.
[0023] The same document also discloses a second configuration, in which adhesive is directly
fed into the seat for block passage without flowing through an extrusion slot, and
is distributed by a plurality of nozzles accommodated in the seat, for a plurality
of adhesive beads to be applied along the edge and the side faces of the block.
[0024] As a result, the adhesive is distributed on the back in a discontinuous manner and
the quality of binding is not adequate for all applications.
Disclosure of the invention
[0025] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks, by providing
an adhesive delivering head for binding machines that is highly efficient and relatively
cost-effective.
[0026] A particular object is to provide an adhesive delivering head that affords even and
accurate distribution of a predetermined amount of adhesive on the back of a block,
while ensuring constant delivery.
[0027] A particular object is to provide an adhesive delivering head that affords highly
accurate metering of the delivered adhesive, while reducing waste and simplifying
cleaning operations, particularly allowing the use of a smaller amount of cleaning
fluid.
[0028] A particular object is to provide an adhesive delivering head that allows removal
of excess adhesive from the back of the block without fouling parts other than the
adhesive delivery area.
[0029] A particular object is to provide an adhesive delivering head that has a smaller
number of parts subjected to wear, which are easily replaceable.
[0030] Another important object of the invention is to provide a binding machine for binding
blocks that uses such adhesive delivering head.
[0031] These and other objects, as better explained hereinbelow, are fulfilled by an adhesive
delivering head for binding machines, as defined in claim 1.
[0032] With this particular configuration, the adhesive may be spread in a substantially
uniform manner all along the slot, while avoiding pressure bursts.
[0033] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a binding machine for binding sheet
elements as defined in claim 9, which uses such adhesive delivering head.
[0034] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are obtained in accordance with the dependent
claims.
Brief description of the drawings
[0035] Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed
description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of an adhesive delivering head
of the invention, which is described as a nonlimiting example with the help of the
annexed drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adhesive delivering head of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the head of Fig. 1;
FIG. 3 is a first lateral view of the head of Fig. 1;
FIG. 4 is a second lateral view of the head of Fig. 1;
FIG. 5 is a sectional lateral view of the head of the invention, as taken along the
plane V-V of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a lateral sectional view of the head of the invention, as taken along the
plane VI-VI of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a lateral sectional view of a detail of the head of the invention, as taken
along the plane VII-VII of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 8 and 9 are two sectional v
Detailed description of a preferred embodiment
[0036] Particularly referring to the accompanying figures, the adhesive delivering head,
generally designated by numeral 1, may be used to spread a predetermined amount of
liquid or semiliquid adhesive on the back D of a plurality of sheet elements F gathered
in side-by-side relation into a block B having a thickness s.
[0037] Particularly, the sheet elements F may consist of paper sheets, either printed or
blank, to form a book, a catalogue or the like.
[0038] The head 1 may be used to spread the adhesive on blocks B of various thicknesses
s and various lengths.
[0039] Furthermore, the head 1 may spread heat melting adhesives of various types, such
as polyurethane, hot melts and EVA adhesives, and allows delivery of adhesives with
different melting points.
[0040] Furthermore, the head 1 may be incorporated in any binding machine, not shown as
a whole and known per se, or may form a self-supporting station designed to be associated
with one or more additional workstations of an existing machine.
[0041] The binding machine may have one or more adhesive delivering heads 1 of the invention
and may include an external storage tank R and pump means P for pumping and conveying
the adhesive towards the head 1, as schematically shown in Fig. 3.
[0042] According to the invention, an adhesive delivering head 1 essentially comprises a
main frame 2 having a longitudinal seat 3 for guiding the back D of the block B of
sheet elements F to be bound.
[0043] The seat 3 may be delimited by a pair of slides 4, 4' located on the upper surface
5 of the frame 2.
[0044] The slides 4, 44' may be movably mounted to the frame 2 to slide thereon in a direction
substantially transverse T to the seat 3 to change the width w thereof.
[0045] Furthermore, for particular types of applications, such slides 4, 4' may be fixedly
connected to the frame 2 to define a seat 3 having a predetermined, constant width
w.
[0046] The slides 4, 4' may be moved towards and away from each other using drive means
6 associated with the frame 2 and connected to the slides 4, 4' by transmissions 7
or other mechanisms.
[0047] The width w of the seat 3 may be relatively greater than the thickness s of the block
B to allow passage thereof through the seat 3.
[0048] Furthermore, the head 1 comprises a substantially transverse slot 8 formed in a portion
9 of the seat 3 for local distribution of a fluid or semifluid adhesive on the back
D to be bound.
[0049] Conveniently, the slot 8 may be disposed in the frame 2 in a substantially central
position.
[0050] Typically, as shown in Fig. 7, the seat 3 may be designed to hold the back D close
to the slot 8, lying on the upper surface 10 of the seat 3 or slightly raised therefrom.
[0051] Preferably, the distance d between the slot 8 and the back D may be of a few tenths
of a millimeter, but it may be changed by adjusting the position of the back D, i.e.
by lifting the back D of the block B, e.g. using appropriate gripper means, not shown.
[0052] Alternatively, the head 1 may be associated with translation means for causing vertical
translation of the frame 2 or a part thereof associated with the seat 3, which means
are not shown and may be of hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical type.
[0053] The length g of the slot 8 may be substantially equal to the width w of the seat
3, if the latter has a fixed, predetermined value.
[0054] However, if the seat 3 is adjustable, the slot 8 will have a maximum length g slightly
smaller than the maximum width w of the seat 3.
[0055] Here, any change of the width w of the seat 3 may result in a change of the length
of the useful portion 11 of the slot 8.
[0056] Each slide 4, 4' may have a respective substantially vertical channel, one of them
being only visible in Fig. 1 and referenced 8', which are located at the slot 8 in
fluid connection therewith.
[0057] Thus, the adhesive may also flow out of the channels 8' to be spread on an edge portion
of the side faces of the block B.
[0058] The amount of adhesive that can be delivered by the slot 8 may be controlled according
to the thickness s of the block B to be bound and the speed at which the block B moves
on the slot 8.
[0059] For constant delivery of adhesive over the back D, the flow rate through the slot
8 shall be simply increased as the speed of the block B increases.
[0060] For this purpose, controlled feeding means 12 are provided for feeding a predetermined
amount of adhesive into the slot 8, which means are located below the slot 8 and upstream
therefrom to cause adhesive to flow if it by a flow action from the underlying area.
[0061] According to the invention, the controlled feeding means 12 comprise a plurality
of feeding elements 13, 13', 13", 13"' in fluid communication with the slot 8 and
evenly distributed in a substantially transverse direction parallel to the extension
of the slot 8 for spreading the adhesive in said distribution portion 9 in a substantially
uniform manner.
[0062] For simplicity, one of the feeding elements, referenced 13, will be only described
below, but it shall be understood that it is identical and has the same parts and
functions as the others in adjacent positions.
[0063] Any number of feeding elements 13 may be provided, depending on the size of the head
1. In the configuration as shown in the drawings by way of example and without limitation,
the head 1 has four feeding elements 13.
[0064] The feeding elements 13 are evenly arranged along the width of the slot 8.
[0065] The distance between two adjacent feeding elements 13 may be selected to ensure the
outflow of the same amount of adhesive all along the extension of the slot 8.
[0066] Furthermore, the amount of adhesive to be spread by the feeding elements 13 may be
unchanged through the various feeding elements 13 or differ from one to the other,
for variable adhesive distribution in particular cases.
[0067] As shown in the figures, the feeding elements 13, 13' may be equally spaced, each
feeding the same amount of adhesive.
[0068] The feeding elements 13 comprise a nozzle 14 which is adapted to be fluidically connected
to a tank R for the adhesive and has an inlet section 15 and an outlet section 16.
[0069] The nozzle 14, as shown in Fig. 7, may be located below the slot 8 and have a substantially
cylindrical shape, with the inlet section 15 substantially equal to the outlet section
16.
[0070] Other configurations, not shown, may use nozzles 14 with inlet sections 15 different
from the outlet sections.
[0071] Particularly, heads 1 may be provided which deliver the adhesive within a range of
transverse widths of backs D and/or within a range of moving speeds thereof, using
nozzles 14 with different inlet 15 and outlet 16 sections.
[0072] In a possible variant embodiment, not shown, the feeding means 12 may be associated
to sensor means, not shown, which are located in the seat 3, close to the slot 8,
and are adapted to detect the block B and its position relative to the slot 8 to turn
the feeding means 12 on or off.
[0073] The sensor means may be of any type, such as photocells or other proximity sensors.
[0074] The controlled feeding means 12 comprise flow adjusting means 17 for adjusting the
flow of adhesive to be delivered from each of the outlet sections 16 of the nozzles
14.
[0075] The adjusting means 17 interact with each of the nozzles 14 to adjust the amount
of adhesive delivered through the slot 8.
[0076] Furthermore, these adjusting means 17 may be of either mechanical or hydraulic type
and may act upon the outlet sections 16 of the nozzles 14 by the action of electronic
control means, not shown.
[0077] The action of the adjusting means 17 may be managed by the electronic control means,
not shown, according to a fixed sequence selected by an operator upon mounting of
the head 1.
[0078] Alternatively, this sequence may be changed by the user by interaction with appropriate
control and display means, not shown.
[0079] Advantageously, the controlled feeding means 12 may include a stabilization chamber
18, as shown in Fig. 5, which is adapted to be connected to the adhesive pumping means
P and to be fluidically connected to the nozzles 14.
[0080] Furthermore, the controlled feeding means 12 may include a collecting chamber 19,
as shown in Fig. 6, which is located upstream from the slot 8 and downstream from
the collecting chamber 18 and is adapted to level the adhesive flow.
[0081] In a configuration that is not shown in the accompanying figures, the head 1 may
have a single collecting chamber 19 designed to be directly connected to the external
tank 9, not shown, through the pumping means P.
[0082] Nevertheless, the stabilization chamber 18 allows a constant pressure, insensitive
to changes in adhesive level in the tank R, to remain in the collecting chamber 19
and hence at the nozzles 14.
[0083] The collecting chamber 18 may have an inlet 20 for the adhesive in an appropriate
position for connection to the pumping means.
[0084] Typically, this inlet 20 is located in the lower part of the stabilization chamber
18 and designed to be removably connected to one or more pipes or the like, not shown,
which are connected to the pumping means for the adhesive to be conveyed from the
tank to the chamber 18.
[0085] As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the collecting chamber 19 may be of substantially smaller
volume than the stabilization chamber 18.
[0086] In a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, this arrangement of
the collecting chamber 19 and the stabilization chamber 18 will provide uniform outflow
of adhesive all along the width g of the slot 8.
[0087] Furthermore, the collecting chamber 19 and the stabilization chamber 18 may have
a polygonal shape.
[0088] Preferably, the collecting chamber 19 extends in the transverse direction at least
along the entire maximum width g of the slot 8.
[0089] Advantageously, the adjusting means 17 may include, for each of said nozzles 14,
a shutter member (21) which is designed to interact therewith to adjust its inlet
section 15.
[0090] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7, each shutter member 21 comprises a substantially
cylindrical stem 22 having a shaped first end 23 inside the stabilization chamber
18 and facing the inlet section 15 of its respective nozzle 14 for at least partially
occluding it.
[0091] Furthermore, the first end 23 of the stems 22 may have a substantially frustoconical
shape and the inlet section 15 of each nozzle 14 may be occluded by introducing such
frustoconical end 23 into the section 15.
[0092] The stem 22 may have a second end 24 outside the stabilization chamber 18, and associated
with actuator means 25 for adjusting the distance of the first end 23 of the stem
22 from the inlet section 15 of each nozzle 14.
[0093] These actuator means 25 may impart a mainly translational movement to the stems 22,
in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L.
[0094] Preferably, the stems 22 are designed to move in respective parallel directions.
[0095] The stems 22 may be moved between a closed position of the nozzles 14, for preventing
adhesive flow into the collecting chamber 19, and a full open position, in which the
inlet section 15 of the nozzles 14 is completely unobstructed.
[0096] Furthermore, the actuator means 25 may be controlled to move each of the stems 22
to any intermediate position between the full open and closed positions, and in which
the inlet section 155 is partially open for partial and controlled flow delivery.
[0097] The stems 22 may slide in appropriate bushings 26 connected to the frame 1 and communicating
with the stabilization chamber 18.
[0098] These bushings 26 may include seals 27 or similar sealing members 28, for preventing
adhesive leakage as the stem 22 is moved.
[0099] Furthermore, the actuator means 25 may include a bracket 29 integral with the second
ends 24 of the stems 22 and associated with motor means 30 for synchronized movement
of the stems 22.
[0100] As shown in Fig. 3, the bracket 29 may have a comb-like configuration, with respective
portions 29', 29", 29''', 29
IV removably connected to the stems 22 by interlocking means 31.
[0101] This anchor bracket 29 is also connected to a hydraulic device 32 which is adapted
to transfer the motion generated by the motor means 30 in a longitudinal direction
substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the stem 22.
[0102] The bracket 29 may have a substantially flat shape and be elastically deformable,
so that a thrust higher than the minimum thrust required for shutting off the nozzles
14 is imparted to the stems 22, for the nozzles to be perfectly closed.
[0103] Advantageously, the main frame 1 may have inclined plan means (33) located at said
seat 3 for at least partially collecting the overflown adhesive and conveying it into
an auxiliary container 34.
[0104] According to the configuration of the invention as shown in the figures, the inclined
plan means 33 may include a pair of channels 35, 35' extending in a substantially
transverse direction and located below the slot 8.
[0105] Furthermore, the channels 35, 35' may have a first end edge 36, 36' at the seat 3
and a second end edge 37, 37' at the transverse end 38 of the main frame 2.
[0106] The auxiliary container 34 for collecting the overflown adhesive may be placed at
the second end edge 37, 37' of the channels 35, 35'.
[0107] In operation, when no block B of sheet elements F is present, the shutter member
21 is in the closed position, with its first end 23 in contact with the inlet section
15 of the nozzle 14 to prevent adhesive from flowing out of the slot 8.
[0108] In this operating state, the pumping means convey the adhesive into the stabilization
chamber 18 at a predetermined pressure.
[0109] Upon detection of a block B of sheet elements F proximate to the slot 8, the motor
means 30 are operated to translate the shutter members 21 from the closed position
to the open position, to at least partially open the nozzles 14 and allow controlled
adhesive delivery.
[0110] The pressure of the adhesive in the stabilization chamber 18 will allow the latter
to fill the collecting chamber 19 and flow out of the slot 8 onto the back D of the
block B.
[0111] The excess adhesive that has flown out of the slot 8 and has not been transferred
to the block B is collected by the inclined plan means 33 and stored in the auxiliary
container 34.
[0112] Once the block B has completed its passage over the slot 8, the shutter members 21
will be translated back to the closed position to prevent the adhesive from being
transferred into the collecting chamber 19.
[0113] In this operating state, the collecting chamber 19 may still contain adhesive, but
the latter cannot flow out of the slot 8 because there is not enough pressure in the
chamber 19 for delivery thereof.
[0114] This additional aspect of the invention is particularly advantageous because the
chamber 19 is ready for adhesive delivery in the next duty cycle.
[0115] In a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the small size of
the collecting chamber 19 will limit adhesive waste when the head 1 is expected to
be inoperative.
[0116] In that case, the slot 8 and a portion of the collection chamber 19 may be easily
filled with materials that protect the adhesive in the collecting chamber 19 from
permanent contact with air.
[0117] Furthermore, if adhesive contacting areas are to be cleaned with special cleaning
products, the small size of the collecting chamber 19 allows such step to be carried
out in a short time and using a small amount of such products.
[0118] The above disclosure clearly shows that the adhesive delivering head and the machine
incorporating such head fulfill the intended objects and particularly meet the requirement
of uniformly spreading a predetermined amount of adhesive on the back of a block of
sheet elements to be bound.
[0119] The head and machine of the invention are susceptible to a number of changes or variants,
within the inventive concept disclosed in the appended claims. All the details thereof
may be replaced by other technically equivalent parts, and the materials may vary
depending on different needs, without departure from the scope of the invention.
[0120] While the head has been described with particular reference to the accompanying figures,
the numerals referred to in the disclosure and claims are only used for the sake of
a better intelligibility of the invention and shall not be intended to limit the claimed
scope in any manner.
1. Ein Klebstoffabgabekopf in einer Bindemaschine für gebundene Blöcke (B) aus Blattelementen
(F) mit einem gebundenen Rücken (D) und einer vorbestimmten Dicke (s), wobei der Kopf
versehen ist mit:
- einem Hauptrahmen (2) mit einem longitudinalen Sitz (3) mit einer vorbestimmten
Breite (w) zur Führung eines Blocks (B) aus Blattelementen (F), die entsprechend zu
dem Rücken (D) zu binden sind,
- einem im Wesentlichen transversalen Schlitz (8) mit einer vorbestimmten maximalen
Breite (g), der gebildet ist in einem Abschnitt (9) des Sitzes (3) für die örtliche
Verteilung eines fluiden oder halbfluiden Klebstoffs auf den Rücken (D) des zu bindenden
Blockes,
- Einrichtungen (12) für die gesteuerte Zufuhr einer vorbestimmten Menge Klebstoff
in den Schlitz (8),
wobei die gesteuerten Zufuhreinrichtungen (12) eine Vielzahl von Zufuhrelementen (13)
aufweisen, die gleichmäßig verteilt sind entlang der Breite (g) des Schlitzes (8)
zur Ausbreitung des Klebstoffs in dem Verteilabschnitt (9) auf eine im Wesentlichen
gleichförmige Art und Einrichtungen (17) zur Anpassung der Fließgeschwindigkeit des
Klebstoffs,
wobei jedes der Zufuhrelemente (13) eine Düse (14) aufweist, die fluidisch verbunden
werden kann mit einem Tank (R) für den Klebstoff und mit einem Einlassbereich (15)
und einem Auslassbereich (16),
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Anpasseinrichtungen (17) für jede der Düsen (14) ein Verschlusselement (21) aufweisen,
das ausgelegt ist mit einer jeweiligen Düse (14) zusammen zu wirken zur Einstellung
von deren Einlassbereich (15).
2. Kopf gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zufuhreinrichtungen (12) zudem eine Sammelkammer (19) stromaufwärts von dem Schlitz
(8) aufweist zur Vergleichmäßigung des Klebstoffflusses.
3. Kopf gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dieZufuhreinrichtungen (12) eine Stabilisierungskammer (18) stromaufwärts von der
Sammelkammer (19) aufweist, die anschließbar istan Pumpeinrichtungen (P) des Klebstoffs
und fluidisch verbunden ist mit den Düsen (14).
4. Kopf gemäß Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jedes der Verschlusselemente (21) einen im Wesentlichen zylindrischen Zapfen (22)
aufweist mit einem geformten ersten Ende (23) innerhalb der Stabilisierungskammer
(18) und gegenüber dem Einlassbereich (15) der Düse (14), um diese mindestens teilweise
zu verdecken.
5. Kopf gemäß Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Zapfen (22) ein zweites Ende (24) aufweist, das außerhalb der Stabilisierungskammer
(18) angeordnet ist.
6. Kopf gemäß Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das zweite Ende (24) des Zapfens (22) zu Betätigungseinrichtungen (25) zugeordnet
ist zur Einstellung des Abstands zwischen dem ersten Ende (23) des Zapfens (22) und
dem Einlassbereich (15) von jeder Düse (14).
7. Kopf gemäß Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dieBetätigungseinrichtungen (25) eine Klammer (29) aufweisen, die solidal ist mit
den zweiten Enden (23) der Zapfen (22) und verbunden ist mit Motoreinrichtungen (30)
zur Förderung einer synchronisierten Bewegung dieser Zapfen (22).
8. Kopf gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Hauptrahmen (2) geneigte Planeinrichtungen (33) aufweist, die an dem Sitz (3)
angeordnet sind zur Aufnahme von mindestens Teilen des übergeflossenen Klebstoffs
und zum Fördern davon in einen Hilfsbehälter (34).
9. Eine Bindemaschine zum Binden von Blöcken (B) aus Blattelementen (F) mit einem Klebstoffabgabekopf
(1) gemäß einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche.