Book trimming apparatus and method

A book trimmer for trimming the edges of a perfect bound book, the latter comprising a plurality of text pages and a cover, said book being rectangular and having major and minor edges, said book to be trimmed along two of its minor edges and along one of its major edges to predetermined finished dimensions, the other of the major edge of said book constituting a spine along which said text pages are bound to said cover, said trimmer comprising a trimming blade movable between an open position in which said book may be inserted between the blade and a blade platen and a closed position in which said book is sheared between said blade and said platen along a shearing plane, a holder for gripping said book as said book is trimmed, a carriage supporting said holder, said carriage being movable laterally with respect to said blade between a first position in which a first edge of said book may be trimmed, a second position in which a second edge of said book may be trimmed, and a third position in which a third edge of said book may be trimmed, said carriage along with said holder being movable toward and away from said blade so as to position said book with respect to said blade such that said with said carriage in its said first, second and third positions, said first, second and third edges of said book are positioned with respect to said shearing plane such that predetermined amounts of said book may be trimmed from said first, second and third edges thereby to produce a book trimmed to its predetermined finished dimensions.

Apparatus for trimming a perfect bound book to a predetermined rectangular size, said perfect bound book having a multiplicity of pages and a cover, said book having first and second minor edges to be trimmed and one major edge to be trimmed, the other major edge of said book constituting a spine along which said pages are bound to said cover, said book before trimming having a major dimension ranging up to a maximum major dimension and said book having a minor dimension ranging up to a maximum minor dimension, said book being trimmed to predetermined major and minor finished dimensions, said apparatus having a trimming blade and a blade platen with the blade being movable in horizontal direction relative to said platen between a retraced position in which said book to be trimmed may be inserted between said blade and said platen and a cutting position in which said book is trimmed between said blade and said platen along a horizontal shearing plane, a holder for gripping said book, a carriage carrying said holder movable horizontally relative to said blade between a first position in which a first minor edge of said book is to be trimmed to a second position in which a second minor edge of said book is to be trimmed and a third position in which one major edge of said book is to be trimmed, said carriage being vertically movable with respect to said shearing plane thereby to position said edges relative to said shearing plane such that predetermined amounts of said book along said first and second minor edges and along said one major edge may be trimmed therefrom so as to produce said book or predetermined finished dimensions, and a control system for controlling operation of said holder, said carriage and said shear blade, the finished dimensions of said finished book being known to said control system such that the latter positions said first and second minor edges and said one major edge relative to said shear plane when said carriage is in its first, second and third positions, respectively, so as to trim portions of said book along said first and second minor edges and along said one major edge thereby to result in a trimmed book having said predetermined finished dimensions.

A book trimming apparatus for trimming a perfect bound book, the latter being of a rectangular configuration having a major dimension and a minor dimension, said perfect bound book being bound along one major edge constituting the spine of said book wherein one of said major edges and both of said minor edges are to have predetermined amounts trimmed therefrom so as to produce a trimmed book of a predetermined finished height and width, said apparatus having a frame, a trimming blade carried by said frame cooperable with a blade platen selectively movable between an open position in which a portion of said book to be trimmed may be inserted between said blade and said platen, a vertical track, a carriage movable on said vertical track toward and away from said blade, a drive for accurately moving said carriage along said vertical track to substantially any desired position along said vertical track, said carriage having a horizontal track movable with said carriage, a book holder carried by said carriage, said book holder gripping a book to be trimmed along proximate said spine, said holder being rotatable with respect to said carriage, said carriage being movable in horizontal direction with respect to said blade between a first position in which a first minor edge of said book may be trimmed to a second position in which the other minor edge is trimmed, said book being rotated about 180° as it is moved from said first to said second position, and said carriage being further movable from said second position to a third position in which said one major edge of said book is disposed relative to said blade for being trimmed, said book being rotated about 90° form its second position.

Apparatus for trimming a bound book to a predetermined finished size, said book having a cover and a plurality of text pages, said book having a spine along one edge thereof, top and bottom edges substantially perpendicular to said spine, and an outer edge substantially parallel to said spine, said apparatus comprising a frame, a book shearing mechanism carried by said frame, said shearing mechanism having a shear blade movable in a horizontal shearing plane between a retracted position in which said book may be moved into position for being trimmed by said blade and a closed position in which said blade engages the book and shears said book, a holder for gripping said book and for holding the book as its edges are trimmed to a predetermined finished size, said holder being mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, said book holder being movable in a horizontal direction relative to said blade such that said book is moved laterally with respect to said trimming blade, and an indexing mechanism for moving said book holder and for rotating said book holder and said book gripped thereby from a first position in which said book is positioned for having a predetermined amount trimmed from one edge thereof to a second position in which said book is positioned for having a predetermined amount trimmed from a second edge thereof, and for moving said book holder and for rotating said holder and said book gripped thereby from said second position to a third position in which said book is positioned relative to said blade for having a predetermined amount trimmed from a third edge thereof thereby to produce a finished and trimmed book of said predetermined size.

A method of trimming a perfect bound book (B) to a predetermined finished size, said book being of generally rectangular shape having a major dimension and a minor dimension, said book having a plurality of text pages (P) and a soft cover (C), said book being perfect bound along one major edge constituting a spine (S), said book having predetermined margins (M) to be trimmed from at least two edges of said book, said method being characterized by the steps of:

• a. gripping said book proximate said spine such that said book is substantially perpendicular to a shear blade as the latter is moved between an open position and a shearing position;
• b. with a first edge of said book disposed in position to be trimmed by said blade, and with said blade in its open position, moving said book relative to said blade such that a predetermined amount of said book along said one edge is positioned relative to said blade so as to be trimmed upon closing of said blade;
• c. effecting operation of said blade so as to trim said predetermined amount from said one edge of said book;
• d. rotating said book so as to dispose another edge of said book relative to said blade for being trimmed;
• e. moving said book relative to said blade such that a predetermined amount of said book along said other edge is positioned relative to said blade so that said second edge is positioned relative to said blade so as to be trimmed from said book upon closing of said blade;
• and
• f. effecting operation of said blade so as to trim said predetermined amount from said other minor edge of said book.

A method of trimming three edges of a perfect bound book (B) to a predetermined finished size, said perfect bound book having a cover (C) and a plurality of pages (P), said book being generally rectangular, said cover and pages being bound to one another along one edge of the book, said one edge constituting a spine (S), said having top and bottom edges generally perpendicular to said spine and an outer edge generally parallel to said spine, said method characterized by the steps of:

• a. placing said book to be trimmed in a holder with the bottom edge of said book projecting downwardly and with said book being gripped by said holder proximate said spine;
• b. moving said book vertically so that a predetermined amount of said book along said bottom edge is positioned for being trimmed from said book;
• c. actuating a shear blade movable in a generally horizontal shearing plane to trim said predetermined amount from said bottom edge of said book;
• d. moving said book from said first position to a second position in which the top edge of said book projects downwardly toward said shearing plane;
• e. moving said book vertically so that a predetermined amount of said book along said top edge is positioned for being trimmed from said book;
• f. actuating said shear blade to trim said predetermined amount from said top edge of said book;
• g. moving said book from said second position to a third position in which said side edge of said book so that a predetermined amount of said book along said side edge is positioned for being trimmed from said book;
• h. actuating said shear blade to trim said predetermined amount from said side edge;
• and
• i. releasing said trimmed book.

A method of trimming a perfect bound book to a predetermined finished size, said book being of generally rectangular shape having a major dimension and a minor dimension, said book having a plurality of text pages and a soft cover, said book being perfect bound along one major edge, said book having predetermined amounts to be trimmed from said minor edges and from said major edge, said book to be trimmed having a predetermined maximum thickness, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. gripping said book such that said book is substantially perpendicular to a shear blade as the latter is moved between an open position and a shearing position;
• b. with a first minor edge disposed in position to be trimmed by said blade and with said blade in its open position, moving said book relative to said blade such that a predetermined amount of said one minor edge is positioned to be trimmed from said book;
• c. effecting operation of said trimming blade so as to trim said predetermined amount from said one minor edge of said book;
• d. rotating said book so as to dispose the other minor edge of said book relative to said blade for being trimmed;
• e. moving said book relative to said blade such that a predetermined amount of said other minor edge is positioned to be trimmed from said book;
• f. effecting operation of said trimming blade so as to trim said predetermined amount from said other minor edge of said book;
• g. rotating said book so as to dispose said one major edge of said book relative to said blade for being trimmed;
• and
• h. effecting operation of said trimming blade so as to trim said predetermined amount from said major edge of said book.

A method of trimming three edges of a perfect bound book to a predetermined finished size, said perfect bound book having a cover and a plurality of pages, said book being generally rectangular, said cover and pages being bound to one another along one edge of the book, said one edge constituting a spine, said having top and bottom edges generally perpendicular to said spine and an outer edge generally parallel to said spine, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing said book to be trimmed in a holder with the bottom edge of said book projecting downwardly and with said book being gripped by said holder proximate said spine;
• (b) moving said book vertically so that a predetermined amount of said book along said bottom edge is positioned for being trimmed from said book;
• (c) actuating a shear blade movable in a generally horizontal shearing plane to trim said predetermined amount from said bottom edge of said book;
• (d) moving said book from said first position to a second position in which the top edge of said book projects downwardly toward said shearing plane;
• (e) moving said book vertically so that a predetermined amount of said book along said top edge is positioned for being trimmed from said book;
• (f) actuating said shear blade to trim said predetermined amount from said top edge of said book;
• (g) moving said book from said second position to a third position in which said side edge of said book so that a predetermined amount of said book along said side edge is positioned for being trimmed from said book;
• (h) actuating said shear blade to trim said predetermined amount from said side edge;
• and
• (i) releasing said trimmed book.