Book block feed device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11529821-B2
Application number	US-202017090563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2020
Priority date	Nov 7, 2019
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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.

2. The book block feed device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a frame including the conveying path,
wherein the conveying path includes:
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 independent from the part in the region of the alignment unit,
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,
wherein the press plate is disposed to face the press surface and is movable in a direction close to and away from the press surface,
wherein the press unit includes 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; and
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

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 is subjected to a processing operation to the book block by each of the alignment unit and the press unit.

3. The book block feed device according to claim 1 , further comprising a conveying mechanism that conveys the book block along the conveying path, wherein, when the book block is conveyed to the press unit by the conveying mechanism, the press plate at a standby position away from the book block disposed on the press surface takes a pressing position to press the book block toward the press surface and returns to the standby position again in order to remove air in the book block.

4. 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.

5. The book block feed device according to claim 4 , wherein the transfer mechanism includes:
a receiving unit attached to the frame, to receive the book block discharged from the press unit and to support 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.

6. The book block feed device according to claim 5 , wherein the paper feed unit, the alignment unit and the press unit are arranged on a straight line, and the receiving unit includes:
a carriage having a flat upper surface that supports the one side surface of the book block

Assignees

• Horizon Int Inc

Inventors

• Kambara Kanta
• Fukuda Shigenobu
• Okamoto Kohei
• Otani Hiroto
• Yokogi Takehito
• Wakimoto Shigeru

Classifications

• B42C19/08 Primary

  Conveying between operating stations in machines (conveyors in general B65G) · CPC title

• B42C13/00 Primary

  Bookbinding presses (general features of presses B30B); Joint-creasing equipment for bookbinding; Drying or setting devices for books · CPC title

• B42C5/00 Primary

  Preparing the edges or backs of leaves or signatures for binding · CPC title

• B42C19/00

  Multi-step processes for making books · CPC title