Rotary stapling machine

#The present invention relates generally to a so-called rotary stapling machine, and more particularly to a rotary stapling machine of the kind which includes a first rotatable cylinder, a so-called stapling cylinder, which coacts with means to maintain a U-shaped staple in a predetermined position of orientation, said means being referred to as a stapling fork, a second rotatable cylinder, a so-called counterpressure cylinder which coacts with a die, wherein said die and said means are mutually so related to the cylindrical surfaces of respective cylinders that as they rotate, they can be given a mutually facing and/or mutually coacting position adapted so as to enable the die to bend the legs of the U-shaped staple in a direction towards said means, and wherein the rotatable cylinders are mutually adapted to allow material to be stapled to pass therebetween material.

#A rotary stapling machine of the aforesaid kind is known to the art and is constructed to apply staples to a material at predetermined distances apart along a material web with the aid of a stapling cylinder, a counterpressure cylinder, a forming drum, a horn which extends around the peripheral surface of the stapling cylinder between the forming drum and the counterpressure cylinder, and a stapling fork which, in coaction with the stapling cylinder, functions to cut staple forming wire-like material in the region between the stapling cylinder and the forming drum and to form a U-shaped staple, which is carried by the stapling fork and the stapling cylinder to the region between the stapling cylinder and the counterpressure cylinder and there fastened to a continuous web of material passing between the stapling cylinder and the counterpressure cylinder, with the aid of a die or anvil mounted on the counterpressure cylinder. A rotary stapling machine of the aforesaid kind is used to staple together multi-page newspapers, magazines or the like along the spine-parts thereof, and forms one processing station, among several, for processing printed matter exiting from a printing machine.

#The printed paper material is folded in different ways to produce a newspaper, magazine or the like, and the individual pages and sheets are joined together by means of spine-related staples.

#An exemplifying embodiment of a rotary stapling machine at present preferred and possessing characteristic features significant of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

#FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified illustration showing in side view a rotary stapling machine which is known in principle and which includes a stapling cylinder, a counterpressure cylinder and a forming drum;

#FIG. 2 is a sectioned side view of a U-shaped staple prior to its legs being pressed against a fixed die which includes curve-forming grooves;

#FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified side-view illustration of a rotary stapling machine which is comprised of a first rotatable roller 2, or a so-called stapling cylinder, which coacts with means 6 in the form of a stapling fork to retain a U-bent staple 7 in a predetermined position of orientation, a second rotatable roller 3 in the form of a counterpressure cylinder which coacts with a die 8, wherein the die 8 and the means 6 are mutually so related to the cylindrical surfaces of respective rollers as to enable them, upon rotation, to be brought to a mutually coacting position in which the legs of the U-shaped staple can be bent in a direction towards said means 6, wherein the rotatable rollers are mutually so adapted as to enable material 1 to be stapled to pass therebetween, said material 1 normally having the form of a paper web which enters the stapling machine and exits therefrom at a selected angle of about 5.degree..

#As illustrated in FIG. 1, the rotary stapling machine requires for its function a stapling cylinder 2 which is mounted on a centre axle 2a for rotation in the direction of the arrow "P", a counterpressure cylinder 3 which is mounted for rotation about a centre axle 3a, and a forming drum 4 which is mounted for rotation about a centre axle 4a.

#The stapling machine also includes a disc-like horn 5 which extends around the upper peripheral surface of the stapling cylinder 2 between the forming drum 4 and the counterpressure cylinder 3 and the width of which is adapted to the free distance between two legs of a U-shaped staple which coacts with a stapling fork 6 fixedly mounted on the stapling cylinder 2 and accompanies rotation of said stapling cylinder. The stapling fork 6 is intended to press the two legs 7a and 7b of a staple 7 through the paper web 1 and in a direction towards an anvil or die 8 fixedly mounted in the counterpressure cylinder 3, in the region "A" shown in FIG. 1.