Individual bookbinding device, system, and associated methods
AssigneeYeaple Corporation
InventorRonald N. Yeaple
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stack of pages can be bound along a binding edge to form a book by positioning a first side of an elongated conductive metal foil strip in contact with the binding edge. The strip has opposed ends, opposed side edges extending between the ends, and an adhesive with a predetermined melting temperature in contact with at least a portion of a first side thereof. The strip has been altered from a first configuration to a second configuration so as to enhance a resistance of the strip between the ends from a first value to a second value substantially greater than the first value. A voltage is applied across the strip sufficient to melt the adhesive to bind the stack of pages together along the binding edge.
Claims21
A system for binding a stack of pages along an edge thereof to form a book, the system comprising an elongated conductive metal foil strip having opposed ends and opposed side edges extending between the ends, the strip having been altered from a first configuration to a second configuration so as to enhance a resistance of the strip between the ends from a first value to a second value substantially greater than the first value, the strip further having an adhesive with a predetermined melting temperature in contact with at least a portion of a first side thereof, a portion of the strip adjacent each of the side edges uncoated with adhesive, the side edge portions foldable upward to surround the adhesive, the strip first side positionable in contact with a binding edge of a stack of pages to be bound, the strip further having end portions adjacent the ends, the end portions adapted for introducing an electrical current thereto to pass along the strip between the ends, the current sufficient to heat the strip to a temperature at least as great as the melting temperature in order to melt the adhesive and thereby bind the stack of pages together along the binding edge.
A method for binding a stack of pages along an edge thereof to form a book, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first side of an elongated conductive metal foil strip in contact with a binding edge of a stack of pages desired to be bound, the strip having opposed ends, opposed side edges extending between the ends, and an adhesive with a predetermined melting temperature in contact with at least a portion of a first side thereof, the strip having been altered from a first configuration to a second configuration so as to enhance a resistance of the strip between the ends from a first value to a second value substantially greater than the first value;
- and
- applying a voltage across the strip sufficient to melt the adhesive to bind the stack of pages together along the binding edge.
A book-binding element comprising an elongated conductive metal foil strip having:
- opposed ends and opposed side edges extending between the ends, the strip having been altered from a first configuration to a second configuration so as to enhance a resistance of the strip between the ends from a first value to a second value substantially greater than the first value, the strip further having an adhesive with a predetermined melting temperature in contact with at least a central portion of a first side thereof in spaced relation from the ends, a portion of the strip adjacent each of the side edges uncoated with adhesive, the side portions foldable upward to surround the adhesive, the strip further having opposed end portions on either side of the central portion, the end portions substantially uncoated with adhesive, the strip first side positionable in contact with a binding edge of a stack of pages to be bound, the strip in the second configuration impedance-matched with a power supply for delivering current along the strip between the end portions sufficient to heat the strip to a temperature at least as great as the melting temperature in order to melt the adhesive and thereby bind the stack of pages together along the binding edge.
A method of making a book-binding element comprising the steps of:
- altering an elongated conductive metal foil strip from a first configuration to a second configuration so as to enhance a resistance of the strip between opposed ends from a first value to a second value substantially greater than the first value;
- and
- applying an adhesive with a predetermined melting temperature to at least a portion of a first side of the strip, the strip first side positionable in contact with a binding edge of a stack of pages to be bound, the strip in the second configuration impedance-matched with a power supply for delivering current along the strip between the ends sufficient to heat the strip to a temperature at least as great as the melting temperature in order to melt the adhesive and thereby bind the stack of pages together along the binding edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.