GB2100189A - Method and device for manufacturing books - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of manufacturing books, which contain a number of coupons or cheques, documents etc., arranged in the form of folded-up strips (10, 11,12) where each strip is attached at one end in a cover (7) and can be unfolded to its full length, starting from a symmetrically folded cover (7) and printed sheets comprising coupons arranged in rows and columns, where along one short side of the sheets a flap (6) is located. Each sheet 1 has break perforations (5) and, respectively, tear perforations (4) between each column and, respectively, row of coupons. A cover intended for several books is provided with break perforations (13) in a spaced relationship corresponding to the width of a desired book. Thereafter in a first step at least as many sheets (1) as desired strips in a book are laid upon each other in a stack and are folded along the tear perforations (4) into wave shape. In a second step the uppermost sheet (1) in the stack is drawn off and the folding is completed, whereby the sheet, seen in cross-section, is folded up in zigzag pattern, with the flap (6) projecting outward. Thereafter the folded-up sheet according to a third step is inserted into said cover, whereafter the second and the third step are repeated until as many sheets (1) as desired strips in a book have been inserted into the cover (7), whereby thus a number of folded-up sheets (1) are inserted in a row of as many coherent covers (7). In a fourth step the cover (7) for each book is stapled together with the flaps (6) inserted into the cover, whereafter in a fifth step the row of coherent books are broken apart along the break perforations (13 and, respectively, 5) in the cover (7) and sheets (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and device for manufacturing books This invention relates to a method of binding books containing a number of coupons, which are arranged in the form of folded-up strips, each of which can be unfolded to its full length.

Each coupon strip, seen in cross-section, is folded-up in a zigzag pattern where each fold is made in the borderline between two adjacent coupons.

One end of each strip is attached to the cover of the book, and the other end, thus, is not attached anywhere. Each book can hoid a number of such folded-up strips placed one onto the other.

A plurality of such folded-up strips placed one above the other, thus, forms a stack of coupons, the lower and upper surface of which corresponds to the surface of a coupon. From one lateral surface of such a stack a flap for each strip projects outward and constitute said one end of the strips intended to be attached to the cover of the book.

It has, therefore, been a tedious craft to manufacture a book of the kind here concerned, as every strip had to be cut out from a larger sheet and then be folded individually whereafter a number of such strips folded-up individually were fitted into a cover, which then was stapled by a stapler to form just one coupon book.

The present invention relates to a method, according to which such books can be manufactured in a much more rational and efficient manner, whereby the costs can be reduced substantially and a higher quality be achieved. The method is particularly advantageous in such cases when the strips relative to each other are different with respect to the coupons.

The present invention, thus, relates to a method of manufacturing books, which contain a number of coupons or cheques, documents etc. arranged in the form of folded-up strips where each strip is attached at one end to a cover and can be unfolded to its full length, starting from said cover, consisting of a paper, which is folded symmetrically along a folding line, and printing sheets comprising a number of coupons arranged in rows and columns, where along one short side of the sheets a flap is located.The invention is characterized in that said sheets are provided with break perforations between each column of coupons and with tear perforations between each row of coupons, that the cover is cut to a length corresponding to the width of the sheets and is provided with break perforations located at the same distance from the short sides of the cover as the break perforations on the sheets are spaced from the longitudinal edges of the sheets, that the manufacture thereafter proceeds in successive steps in such a manner, that in a first step a number of sheets equal at least to the number of strips desired in each book are laid one upon the other in a stack and are folded along the tear perforations to wave-shape, in a second step the uppermost sheet is drawn off from the stack, and the folding along the tear perforations is completed, whereby the sheet, seen in crosssection, is folded-up in zigzag pattern, and the flap projects outward from the folded-up sheets, in a third step the folded-up sheet is inserted, with the flap located foremost, into said cover so that the longitudinal edge of the flap is caused to contact the cover at the fold thereof, that the second and third step are repeated until a number of sheets equal to the number of desired strips in a book have been inserted into the cover, whereby thus a number of folded-up sheets are inserted in a row of coherent covers equal in number to the number of columns on the sheets, and in a fourth step the row of books thus coherent are introduced into a means, preferably a stapler, which is caused to bind each cover intended for a book with the flaps inserted into the cover, and in a fifth step the row of coherent books is broken apart along the break perforations in the cover and sheets.

The invention also relates to a device of the kind having substantially the characterizing features as defined in the attached claim 4.

The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a sheet with coupons, Fig. 2 shows a plurality of sheets according to Fig. 1 laid one above the other and folded in wave pattern, Fig. 3 shows a folded-up sheet, Figs. 4 and 5 show a plurality of folded-up sheets inserted into a cover, Fig. 6 shows a plurality of books, Fig. 7 is a front view of a device according to the invention, Fig. 8 is a section of the device in Fig. 7 along the line A-A in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 1 a sheet is shown, which comprises a plurality of coupons 2.

The invention is described in the following by way of an embodiment where the coupons 2 are so-called meai coupons. The invention, however, by no means is restricted to the mariufacture of such books with meal coupons of different denominations, but can refer to any kind of coupon, reduced rate ticket, cheque books of various types, such as traveller's cheques or bank cheques, receipt coupons etc.

A sheet 1 according to Fig. 1 is printed in a printing press, whereby often also a corner 3 on each coupon is milled off in order to facilitate in a subsequent step the control that the coupons 2 are located correctly relative to each other. All coupons in one sheet are identical, possibly except a serial number or the like.

As the printing process per se is not a part of the invention, it is here not described in detail. At the printing, according to the present invention, every sheet 1 is so perforated, that the horizontal dividing lines between the coupon rows in Fig. 1 are provided with a tear perforation 4, and so, that the dividing lines between the coupon columns are provided with a break perforation 5. The tear perforation 4 is made so that the perforation degree is smaller than at the break perforation 5.

Along one short end of the sheet 1 a flap 6 is located. At the manufacture of a coupon book with several strips therein it is proceeded in a first step so, that a number oi sheets E which at east is equal to the number of strips desired in each book are laid upon each other and folded in the tear perforations 4 to wave shape. See Fig. 2.

When each strip of coupons 2 in a completed book is to be different, a number of sheets are laid upon each other which corresponds to the number of strips desired and of denominations desired.

Several such sets of sheets preferably are laid upon each other, so that the stack of sheets shown in Fig. 2 corresponds to a number of such sheet sets.

A book is supposed, for example, to contain five strips. In this case ten sheet sets each of five sheets can form the stack shown in Fig. 2.

In a second step according to the invention the uppermost sheet 1 in the folded stack in Fig. 2 is drawn off so that the folding along the tear perforations 4 is completed, whereby the sheet 1, seen in cross-section, is folded-up in zigzag pattern, and the flap 6 projects outward from the folded-up sheet 1.

In a third step according to the invention the sheet 1 thus folded-up is inserted into a cover 7 of a paper of greater hardness, see Fig. 4, which is folded along a folding line 8 so that a fold 9 is formed. The length of the cover 7 corresponds to the width of the sheet 1, and the width of the cover 7 in folded-up state exceeds slightly the width of the flap 6 plus the heigh of a coupon according to Fig. 1. The cover 7 is provided with break perforations 14, which extend transversely to the length of the cover and divide the cover into as many parts as there are columns on the sheet 1, i.e. at the embodiment shown into five parts of equal size. Each of the parts is intended to constitute a cover on only one complete book. At said insertion, the longitudinal edge of the flap 6 is caused to contact the cover 7 at the fold 9 thereof.

When the sheet 1 in the way described above has been drawn off from the stack of folded sheets and been inserted into the cover 7, the next sheet 1 is drawn off from the stack, a.s.o.. until as many sheets have been drawn off and inserted as there are strips desired to be contained in a complete book.

In Fig. 4, for the sake of clearness, only three folded-up sheets are shown which form strips 10, 11, 12 inserted into the cover. The respective flaps 6 of the sheets 10, 11, 12 abut the fold 9.

In Fig. 5 five folded-up sheets are shown by way of example, which after the third step have been compressed to form a compact stack 14.

Thus, five flaps 6 are attached to the fold 9.

After said third step, thus, a number of folded up sheets 1 are inserted in a row of coherent covers, the length of which is such that five adjacent covers are coherent to each other.

This row of covers with folded-up sheets, according toa fourth step of the invention, is inserted into a binding means where a staple 1 5 or corresponding member is caused to bind together each cover 7 intended for a book with the flaps 6 inserted into the cover. See Figs. 5 and 6.

In Fig. 5 the line 1 6 represents the line, along which the staples 15 5 are moved.

In a final step, the fifth one, of the invention, each book 1 6 in the row of books is separated by tearing along the break perforations 5 between the columns of the sheet 1 and the break perforations 13 of the cover, which break perforations coincide as to their position. In Fig. 6 a book being separated by tearing is indicated by dashed line.

Each such separated book 16, thus, contains five strips, each comprising ten coupons, the denominations of which are different in the different strips. The tearing-off can be carried out of the coupon located farthest away from the flap 6 on each strip along the tearing perforation 4 between the coupons, whereafter the remaining part of the strip is maintained in the cover.

It is, thus, possible by the present method to manufacture rapidly, simple and inexpensively books with a varying number of strips and coupons in each strip, and with strips containing different types of coupons, for example different denominations.

Compared with the afore-mentioned known art of manufacturing such a book the invention eliminates the steps of separating by cutting the columns in a sheet, of manually folding every strip individually, and of sorting such folded-up strips which are to be contained in a book. In addition to being much more simple and cost-saving, the method also offers a higher degree of safety.

Owing to the method, the sheets 1 substantially require to be controlled with respect to position and number only when the stack shown in Fig. 2 is assembled, compared with that every individually folded-up strip must be selected and assorted individually into a book to be.

For reason of safety at the usage of such coupons representing money value, it is often desired that the cover and each coupon in a book carry a certain number.

In such a case, according to known art every strip must be sorted so that, after its folding and at the assembly of each book, strips with the same number as a cover are to be found. Such sorting, of course, is possible but requires much time.

When utilizing the present invention, this sorting is carried out as follows. At the printing of a great number of sheets with coupons of a certain denomination, all coupons in the same columns on a sheet are provided with the same number. The different columns of coupons on the same sheet, thus, have different numbers.

Furthermore, the numbers are stepped from one sheet to the other according to a certain number series.

When sheets with a different denomination are printed, the same number series is used. When, for example, books with five denominations are desired, thus, five different types of sheets are printed.

After the printing of five different denominations, as comprised in the above example, one sheet is drawn off from each of five stacks produced of different sheets, and the sheets are stacked. Thereafter another sheet with each of the denominations is drawn off in the same way, a.s.o.. until for example ten such sheet sets representing the example above in Fig. 2 are obtained.

In the aforesaid example, thus, every sheet in a set of sheets in the folded stack in Fig 2 is provided with the same number with respect to columns having the same position, so that every coupon in a complete book has the same number.

The present method, thus, renders a very simple sorting possible.

In Fig. 7 a device 17 for carrying out the method is shown. The device 1 7 comprises a number of binding means, preferably in the form of per se known staplers 1 8-22 arranged in parallel with each other and in spaced relationship corresponding to the width of a book desired.

Every stapler consists in known manner of a bottom portion 23 and an upper portion 24, which is movable relative to the lower portion and includes a magazine and a discharge means 25 for staples.

The staplers 1 8-22 are fixed in dovetail grooves 26 in a bottom portion 27 of the device, to which bottom portion lateral pieces 28, 29 and an upper portion 30 are connected. On the upper portion an air cylinder 31 is located. The piston rod 32 of the air cylinder 31 is connected at its outer end to a bar 33, which is provided with a substantially plane bottom surface 34 perpendicular to the direction of movement of the piston rod 32. The ends 35, 36 of the bar 33 each run in a guide groove 37, 38, which are located in or at said lateral pieces 28, 29.

The bottom surface 34 is intended to cooperate with the discharge means 25 of the staplers 18-22 in such a manner, that at a stroke by the air cylinder 31 all discharge means 25 are depressed, whereby one staple per stapler is pressed through and staples the paper located in the gap of the stapler.

According to the fourth step of the invention, thus, a row of books, as shown in Fig. 6, are inserted into the gaps of the staplers 1 8-22. See Fig. 8. For positioning the row of books, a number of stop shoulders 38-44 are provided, against which the rows of books are intended to be inserted. One or more micro-switches 45--46 are arranged to scan that the row of books abut the stop shoulders, i.e. are inserted perpendicularly to the plane of the paper in Fig. 7 and abut the stop shoulders.

An additional micro-switch 47 is located some distance away from the lateral piece 28. When the row of books have been inserted, they are moved to the left in Fig. 7 into abutment to the additional micro-switch 47. Hereby the row of books are correctly positioned in relation to the staplers 18-22. When the row of books simultaneously abut all micro-switches 45, 46, 47, i.e. when all micro-switches emit a signal, the signals are utilized for energizing a valve 48 to the air cylinder 31, which thereby carries out a stroke.

Bound in a book, thus, are only the cover 7 and the flaps 6.

By the method described and by using the device described, a very rapid and efficient manufacture of such books is achieved.

The invention, of course, can be varied without abandoning the invention idea. The invention, therefore, must not be regarded restricted to the embodiments set forth above.

Claims (7)

1. A method of manufacturing books (16), which contain a number of coupons (2) or cheques, documents etc. arranged in the form of fold-up strips (10, 11, 12), where each strip is attached at one end to a cover (7) and can be unfolded to its full length, starting from said cover (7) consisting of a paper, which is folded along a folding line, and printed sheets (1) comprising a number of coupons (2) arranged in rows and columns, where along one short side of the sheets (1) a flap (6) is located, characterized in that said sheets (1) are provided with break perforations (5) between each column of coupons (2) and with tear perforations (4) between each row of coupons (2), that the cover (7) is cut to a length corresponding to the width of the sheets (1) and is provided with break perforations (13) located at the same distance from the short sides of the cover (7) as the break perforations (5) on the sheets (1) are spaced from the longitudinal edges of the sheets (1), that the manufacture thereafter proceeds in successive steps in such a manner, that in a first step a number of sheets (1) equal at east to the number of desired strips (10,11, 12) in each book (16) are laid one upon the other in a stack and are folded along the tear perforations (5) to wave shape, in a second step the uppermost sheet is drawn off from the stack and the folding along the tear perforations (5) is completed, whereby the sheet (1), seen in cross-section, is folded-up in zigzag pattern, and the flaps (6) project outward from the folded-up sheets, in a third step the folded-up sheet (1) is inserted, with the flap (6) located foremost, into said cover (7) so that the longitudinal edge of the flap (1) is caused to contact the cover (7) at the fold (9) thereof, that the second and the third step are repeated until a number of sheets (1) equal to the number of desired strips in a book have been inserted into the cover, whereby thus a number of folded-up sheets (1) are inserted in a row of coherent covers (7) equal to the number of columns on the sheets (1), and in a fourth step the row of books (16) thus coherent are introduced into a means (17), preferably a stapler, which is caused to bind each cover (7) intended for a book (16) with the flaps (6) inserted into the cover, and in a fifth step the row of coherent books (16) is broken apart along the break perforations (13 and, respectively, 5) in the cover (7) and sheets (1).

2. A method as defined in Claim 1 ,for the case when different coupons (2), for example different denominations, are desired to be contained in the books, characterized in that in said first step one or more sets of sheets (1), which are different from each other with respect, for example, to the denominations of the coupons (2), are laid one upon the other to form said stack, where each of the sets comprises the number of each of the different sheets (1) which is to be contained in a desired book (16).

3. A method as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said fourth step is carried out in that said row of coherent books (16) are inserted into a device (17) comprising as many staplers (18-22) arranged in parallel with each other as there are columns on a sheet (1), and at the insertion are pushed against means (45-47) for energizing a drive mechanism (48, 31-33) for simultaneously driving the staplers (1822) and thereby staple the cover (7) with the flaps (6) for each book (16) to be.

4. A device for manufacturing books (16) containing a number of coupons (2) or cheques, documents etc. arranged in the form of folded-up strips (10,11,12), where each strip can be unfolded to its full length, which books comprise a cover (7), which is folded, and strips (10, 11, 12) inserted into the cover (7), characterized in that a number of binding means, preferably in the form of per se known staplers (18-22) are arranged in parallel with each other and in spaced relationship corresponding to the width of a desired book, that a bar (33) is provided and abuts a discharge means (25) for staples for each of said staplers, which bar (33) is movable to and from the staplers (1 8-22) by action of a drive means (31), such as an air cylinder, coupled together with the bar (33), and that upon actuation of the air cylinder (31) by means intended for this purpose the cylinder carries out a reciprocatory stroke, whereby the discharge means of all staplers discharge a staple simultaneously.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, characterized in that said means are micro-switches (45, 46, 47) whereof two (45, 46) are located between staplers for scanning that the cover to be stapled is inserted sufficiently beneath the discharge means (25) of the staplers (18-22), and one (47) is located to the side of an outer stapler (1 8) for scanning that said cover is positioned correctly in its longitudinal direction in relation to the staplers (18-22).

6. A method of or device for manufacturing books substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. A book produced by the method or device according to any one of the preceding claims.