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US 11,529,821 B2Granted
Book block feed device
AssigneeHorizon International Inc.
InventorsKanta Kambara, Shigenobu Fukuda, Kohei Okamoto, Hiroto Otani, Takehito Yokogi, Shigeru Wakimoto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is a book block feed device capable of feeding a book block always in an aligned state to a bookbinding machine. The book block feed device comprises an alignment unit and a press unit that are adjacently arranged in order along a conveying path of the book block from an inlet to an outlet of the conveying path. The alignment unit comprises a vibrator that vibrates the book block. The press unit includes a press surface that forms a part of a conveying surface of the conveying path, and a press plate that sandwiches and presses the book block between the press plate and the press surface.
Claims6
A book block feed device that feeds a book block to a bookbinding machine, comprising:
- an alignment unit and a press unit that are adjacently arranged in order along a conveying path of the book block from an inlet to an outlet of the conveying path;
- and
- a transfer mechanism disposed in the outlet of the conveying path to feed the book block pressed by the press unit to the bookbinding machine,
- wherein the alignment unit includes at least one vibrator that vibrates the book block and a blower connected to an air outlet opened in the conveying path,
- wherein the press unit includes:
- a press surface that forms a part of a conveying surface of the conveying path;
- and
- a press plate that sandwiches and presses the book block between the press plate and the press surface,
- wherein the transfer mechanism includes:
- a receiving unit that receives the book block discharged from the press unit and supports the book block in a vertically standing state;
- a hand unit that is to hold the book block supported by the receiving unit;
- and
- a hand moving mechanism attached to the frame to move the hand unit between the receiving unit and the bookbinding machine, and
- wherein the receiving unit includes:
- a carriage having a flat upper surface that supports the one side surface of the book block;
- a fixing plate attached to the carriage to support the one surface of the book block:
- a movable plate that is disposed to face the fixing plate and movable in a direction close to and away from the fixing plate;
- a plate drive mechanism to move the movable plate between a holding position to hold the book block between the movable plate and the fixing plate and a hold releasing position that is away from the book block on the fixing plate;
- and
- a carriage drive mechanism to turn the carriage between an aligned position where the upper surface and the fixing plate are arranged on a straight line with the conveying path and a turned position rotated from the aligned position in a state where the movable plate is arranged in the holding position.
17 more elements
A book block feed device that feeds a book block to a bookbinding machine, comprising:
- an alignment unit and a press unit that are adjacently arranged in order along a conveying path of the book block from an inlet to an outlet of the conveying path, the alignment unit including at least one vibrator that vibrates the book block, the press unit including a press surface that forms a part of a conveying surface of the conveying path, and a press plate that sandwiches and presses the book block between the press plate and the press surface;
- and
- a frame including the conveying path, the conveying path including a first conveying surface to support one surface of the book block, and a second conveying surface extending from a lower edge of the first conveying surface, and to support one side surface of the book block,
- wherein the alignment unit and the press unit are provided in the frame,
- wherein the conveying path includes a part in a region of the alignment unit and a part in a region of the press unit, the parts being independent of each other,
- wherein the at least one vibrator is coupled to the first conveying surface and/or the second conveying surface of the conveying path,
- wherein the press surface forms a part of the first conveying surface of the conveying path, and
- wherein the press plate is disposed to face the press surface, and movable in a direction close to and away from the press surface, the press unit including a press plate drive mechanism that moves the press plate in a direction vertical to the press surface between a standby position away from the book block disposed on the press surface and a pressing position to press the book block toward the press surface,
- wherein the book block feed device further comprises
- a conveying mechanism that conveys the book block along the conveying path;
- a paper feed unit provided in the frame and disposed in the inlet of the conveying path, to receive feed of the book block and to send the received book block to the alignment unit;
- and
- a transfer mechanism provided in the frame and disposed in the outlet of the conveying path, to feed the book block pressed by the press unit to the bookbinding machine,
- wherein the book block sent from the paper feed unit is conveyed between the alignment unit and the press unit by the conveying mechanism, and subjected to a processing operation to the book block by each of the alignment unit and the press unit, and
- wherein at least one air outlet is opened in the second conveying surface of the conveying path in the alignment unit, and the alignment unit further includes a blower connected to the at least one air outlet.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.