Method and apparatus for set binding, stapling and stacking
AssigneeGradco (Japan) Ltd.
InventorsPeter M. Coombs, James R. Seay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for receiving and assembling sheets in a binding station at which thermal binding strips are automatically supplied to the side edges of the assembled sets, the sheet receiving trays at the binding station are laterally moved apart to allow a set of assembled bound or unbound sheets to gravitate to a stapling station at which an assembled set of sheets may be stapled together, and the trays forming the stapling station are moved laterally apart to allow the stapled set to gravitate to a stacker tray which is allowed to move downwardly as progressive sets are deposited on the stacker tray and the stacker tray is moved upwardly to a set receiving position following removal of finished sets.
Claims18
A set finishing apparatus adapted for utilization with sheets fed from an image producing machine comprising:
- a two part heater element having a first part, forming a right angular seat for a right angular binding strip, and a second part;
- a magazine for receiving a stack of the binding strips;
- a transport mechanism adapted to successively move one of the binding strips from the magazine to the right angular seat;
- a delivery mechanism adapted to deliver a set of sheets to the binding strip in the right angular seat with an edge of the set supported by the right angular seat with the binding strip therebetween;
- an engagement mechanism adapted to move the second part of the heater element parallel pressure engagement with the set of sheets against a parallel portion of the first part;
- and
- the heater element being adapted to applying heat to the binding strip.
A set finishing means for utilization with sheets fed from an image producing machine comprising:
- a two part heater means for applying heat and pressure to a right angular binding strip, the two part heater means having
- a first part, forming a right angular seat for the right angular binding strip, and a second part moveable in relation to the first part;
- a magazine for receiving a stack of the binding strips;
- a transport means for successively moving one of the binding strips from the magazine to the right angular seat;
- a delivery means for delivering a set of sheets to the binding strip in the right angular seat with an edge of the set supported by the right angular seat with the binding strip therebetween;
- an engagement means for moving the second part of the heater element into parallel pressure engagement with the set of sheets against a parallel portion of the first part;
- and the heater means applying heat to the binding strip.
A method for set finishing for utilization with sheets fed from an image producing machine comprising:
- employing a two part heater element to apply heat and pressure to a right angular binding strip, the two part heater element having a first part, forming a right angular seat for the right angular binding strip, and a second part moveable in relation to the first part;
- receiving a stack of the binding strips in a binding strip magazine;
- successively moving one of the binding strips from the magazine to the right angular seat;
- delivering a set of sheets to the binding strip in the right angular seat with an edge of the set supported by the right angular seat with the binding strip therebetween;
- moving the second part of the heater element into parallel pressure engagement with the set of sheets against a parallel portion of the first part;
- and
- applying heat to the binding strip through the fist and second parts of the heater element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.