GB2283454A

GB2283454A - A process for manufacturing writing pads

Info

Publication number: GB2283454A
Application number: GB9322582A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Molloy; George Molloy; Gabriel Molloy
Original assignee: BURROW GROVE Ltd
Current assignee: BURROW GROVE Ltd
Priority date: 1993-11-02
Filing date: 1993-11-02
Publication date: 1995-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-02
Also published as: GB2283454B; GB9322582D0; BE1005966A6

Abstract

Stacks of sheets are prepared and delivered to a loading station (13), each stack comprising a selected number of writing sheets mounted between outer cover sheets. The sheets in each stack are aligned and then conveyed horizontally to a gluing station (40) where hot melt adhesive is sprayed onto a binding edge of the stack. Excess glue is scraped away from the binding edge and the stack is delivered to a taping station (50). A binding tape is fed from a supply reel over a roller which applies glue to one side of the tape. The tape is then aligned with the binding edge of the stack and pressed into engagement with the binding edge and folded around the binding edge. Downstream of the binding station (50) the tape is cut and the stack conveyed to a drilling station (70) where pairs of spaced-apart holes are drilled in the stack. From the drilling station (70) the stack is passed to a guillotine (78) where excess material is cut from free side edges of the stack. The stack is then cut in two to produce a pair of bound writing pads. <IMAGE>

Description

"A process for manufacturing writing pads' This invention relates to a process for manufacturing writing pads.

According to the invention there is provided a process for manufacturing writing pads comprising the steps: preparing a number of stacks of sheets, each stack comprising a selected number of writing sheets mounted between outer cover sheets; feeding each stack horizontally in turn to an alignment device; aligning the sheets in the stack in the alignment device by pushing the sheets against an alignment rail to align a binding edge of sheets in the stack; delivering the aligned sheets to a conveyor and engaging a top surface and a bottom surface of the sheets by means of the conveyor, pressing the sheets together; conveying the stack to a gluing station; preparing a hot-melt adhesive at the gluing station; spraying a pre-set quantity of adhesive along the binding edge of the stack at the gluing station;; scraping excess glue from the binding edge downstream of the gluing station; delivering the stack to a taping station; leading a binding tape from a supply reel; applying a layer of adhesive to one surface of the tape; aligning the tape with the binding edge of the stack, the tape projecting upwardly of a top edge of the stack and downwardly of a bottom edge of the stack; pressing a central portion of the tape into engagement with the binding edge of the stack; folding an upper portion of the tape against a top sheet of the stack and simultaneously folding a lower portion of the tape against a bottom sheet of the stack; pressing the tape firmly against the binding edge of the stack and against the top sheet and the bottom sheet of the stack; cutting the tape upstream of the stack; delivering the stack to a guillotine, and cutting excess material from free side edges of the stack and then cutting the stack in two, to produce a pair of bound writing pads of a pre-desired size.

In one embodiment of the invention the process includes the steps of delivering the stack to a drilling station upstream of the guillotine; positioning the stack beneath two pairs of drills at the drilling station by engaging a leading end of the stack against an end stop and then pushing a side edge of the stack against a side stop; operating the drills and advancing the drills downwardly to engage the stack and cut two pairs of holes in the stack; retracting the drills and conveying the drilled stack to the guillotine.

In another embodiment the process includes the step of passing each stack through a cutter upstream of the gluing station and serrating the binding edge of the stack by means of a cutter blade or blades.

In a further embodiment the process includes the step of preparing the stacks by the steps: feeding a web of blank paper from a supply roll; delivering the web to a printing station; printing ruled lines on each side of the web at the printing station; cutting the ruled web into ruled sheets of a pre desired size; collating the sheets to form stacks of a pre desired number of ruled sheets, mounting a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet at opposite ends of each stack enclosing the ruled sheets.

In a preferred embodiment the process includes the step of simultaneously printing a margin line on the web when the ruled lines are being printed on the web.

In another embodiment the process includes the steps of preparing the stacks by: feeding a web of blank paper from a supply roll; delivering the web to a printing station; printing a graph paper matrix on the web at the printing station; cutting the printed web into sheets of a pre desired size; collating the sheets to form stacks of a predetermined number of printed sheets, mounting a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet at opposite ends of each stack enclosing the printed sheets.

In a further embodiment the process includes the step of perforating the sheets adjacent a binding edge of the sheets prior to collating the sheets.

Preferably the binding adhesive when set is elastic.

In another aspect the invention provides writing pads whenever produced by a process as described herein.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of apparatus for carrying out a process for manufacturing writing pads according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of portion of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view showing portion of a conveyor used in the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a gluing station provided in the apparatus; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the gluing station; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a taping station of the apparatus; Fig. 7 is a detail partially sectioned elevational view of portion of the apparatus;; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of portion of the apparatus for applying a binding tape to writing pads according to the process; Fig. 9 is a detail elevational view of a tape folder forming portion of the apparatus; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a drilling station of the apparatus; Fig. 11 is a detail partially sectioned elevational view of the drilling station; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a printing roller used in the process; Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view showing portion of a printing roller sleeve used in another embodiment of the process; Fig. 14 is an end elevational view of the printing roller sleeve shown on Fig. 13; and Fig. 15 is a schematic illustration of a printing station used in the process.

Referring to the drawings, a process and apparatus for manufacturing writing pads according to the invention will be described.

A number of stacks 10 of sheets are prepared, each stack 10 comprising a selected number of writing sheets mounted between outer cover sheets. A bundle 12 of the stacks 10 is delivered to a loading station 13.

Each stack 10 is mounted horizontally on a conveyor 15 having a platform 16 for supporting the stack 10. Mounted beneath the platform 16 are a pair of spaced-apart endless chains (not shown), each chain carrying a number of spaced-apart fingers 17 which project upwardly through associated longitudinal slots 18 in the platform 16 to engage the stack 10 and move the stack along the platform 16.

The conveyor 15 delivers the stack 10 onto a feed conveyor 20 for delivery of the stack 10 to an alignment device 22.

The stack 10 is delivered from the conveyor 15 against an adjustable backstop 23 and the stack 10 is then moved by the conveyor 20 (which is of similar construction to the conveyor 15) onto the alignment device 22. On the alignment device 22 the sheets in the stack 10 are aligned by pushing the sheets against an alignment rail 25 by means of a pusher 26 having a pusher blade 27. The blade 27 is mounted in an arm 28 which is slidably mounted on a support 29. The support 29 is movable in the direction of arrow (fig. 2) for pushing the sheets against the alignment rail 25.

From the alignment device 22 the aligned sheets are delivered to a conveyor 30 having an upper endless conveyor belt 31 (Fig. 3) and an associated lower endless conveyor belt 32 which engage the stack 10 there between.

To facilitate entry of the stack 10 between the conveyor belts 31, 32 a leading portion 34 of the upper conveyor belt 31 is pivotally mounted at 36 on a support 35.

Pivoting of the support 35 is synchronized with the conveyor 20 so that the front end of the conveyor 31 lifts as a stack 10 approaches. Upon entry of the stack 10 between the conveyor belts 31, 32 the support 35 drops so that the top surface and the bottom surface of the stack 10 of sheets are gripped by the conveyors 31, 32 which press the sheets together.

The conveyor 30 delivers the stack 10 to a gluing station 40. At the gluing station 40 a hot-melt adhesive is prepared. As the stack 10 passes through the gluing station 40 hot adhesive is sprayed from a distributor head 42 (Fig. 5) along a binding edge 43 of the stack 10.

Downstream of the gluing station 40 a scraper 45 scrapes away excess glue which runs down to a lower end of the binding edge 43.

The glued stack 10 is then delivered to a taping station 50. A binding tape 51 is lead from a supply reel (not shown) and is engaged against a gluing roller 52 which is rotatably mounted in a glue bath 53. Thus glue is picked up by the roller 52 from the bath 53 and applied to one surface of the tape 51. The tape 51 is then drawn down around an inclined cylindrical guide 55 to align the tape with the binding edge 43 of the stack 10. It will be noted that the tape 51 projects upwardly of a top edge of the stack and downwardly of a bottom edge of the stack.

The conveyor delivers the stack 10 through a press 57 which presses a central portion of the tape 51 into engagement with the binding edge 43 of the stack 10. The press 57 also curls in a top edge 58 and bottom edge 59 of the tape 51 (see Fig. 7). The stack 10 is then delivered through a rotating tape folder 60 (Fig. 8), the binding edge 43 of the stack 10 being passed between flanges 62 which urge the top edge 58 and bottom edge 59 of the tape 51 against a top sheet of the stack 10 and a bottom sheet of the stack 10 respectively.

Downstream of the folder 60 the binding edge of the stack 10 passes between a pair of rotating, vertically spacedapart brushes 65, 66 which engage the top edge 58 and bottom edge 59 of the tape 51 to firmly press and smooth the tape against the stack 10.

The stack 10 is then delivered through fixed upper and lower brushes 67 which also press the tape sides into engagement with the stack 10. Simultaneously a row of spaced-apart spring plates 69 engage against the central portion of the tape 51 to ensure it is smoothed and properly adhered to the binding edge 43 of the stack 10.

The stack 10 is then delivered to a cutting station (not shown) where the tape 51 is cut upstream of the stack 10 when the stack passes a cutter blade.

Downstream of the cutting station the bound stack 10 is delivered to a drilling station 70. At the drilling station 70 a leading edge of the stack 10 is engaged against an end stop 71. Then a pusher 72 pushes a side edge of the stack 10 against a side stop rail 73 to correctly align the stack 10 with two pairs of drills mounted above the stack 10. The drills are then operated and advanced downwardly to engage the stack 10 and cut two pairs of holes 75 in the stack 10. Then the drills are retracted and the end stop 71 is lifted and the stack 10 is conveyed to a guillotine 78. The end stop 71 is slidably adjustable along a support bar 76.

At the guillotine 78, excess material is cut from the free side edges of the stack 10 and then the stack 10 is cut in two to produce a pair of bound writing pads of a predesired size.

In some cases, prior to gluing, the stack may be passed through a cutter upstream of the gluing station in which the binding edge of the stack is serrated by means of one or more cutting blades. This improves the penetration of glue into the binding edge of the stack for firmer binding of the sheets within the stack.

Further, in some cases, the stack 10 may be delivered through the drilling station 70 without drilling the stacks.

Conveniently, stacks may be prepared at a printing station having a rotary printing press by feeding a web of blank paper from a supply roll and delivering the web to a printing station, having print rollers which print ruled lines on each side of the web at the printing station.

The ruled web is then cut into ruled sheets of a predesired size. These sheets are then collated to form stacks having a pre-desired number of ruled sheets with a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet being mounted at each end of each stack enclosing the ruled sheets.

Fig. 15 diagrammatically illustrates a print station 80 in which a web 81 of blank paper is led round a guide roller 82. An ink-pick up roller 83 takes up ink 84 from an ink bath 85. An Analux ink-transfer roller 86 in engagement with the ink pick-up roller 83 takes up ink from the ink pick-up roller 83. A printing roller 87 in engagement with the ink transfer roller 86 takes up ink from the ink transfer roller 86 and prints a required design on the web 81 which is urged against the print roller 87 by the guide roller 82.

The printing roller 87 has a support shaft 89 (Fig. 12) on which is mounted a printing roller sleeve 90. A laser cut print design 91 is provided on an outer surface of the sleeve 90. The print design 91 may comprise a series of endless spaced-apart parallel ridges 92 which encircle the sleeve 90. Such a design of print roller 87 is used for simply printing lines on the web 81. Advantageously, when it is also desired to print a margin line on the web 81, the design 91 further includes a margin ridge 93 extending axially along an outer surface of the sleeve 90 traversing the ridges 92. Thus, in a simple and efficient manner, ruling lines and margin lines can be applied to the web in a single printing operation from a single print roller and this gives a smooth printing of the margin line on the web 81.

Figs. 13 and 14 show another print roller sleeve 95 having a graph paper design 96 arranged on an outer surface of the sleeve 95. Each design 96 has a squared matrix of ridges standing proud of the surface of the sleeve. By use of the sleeve 95 to form the print roller 87 advantageously graph paper designs can be printed on the web 81.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A process for manufacturing writing pads comprising the steps: preparing a number of stacks of sheets, each stack comprising a selected number of writing sheets mounted between outer cover sheets; feeding each stack horizontally in turn to an alignment device; aligning the sheets in the stack in the alignment device by pushing the sheets against an alignment rail to align a binding edge of sheets in the stack; delivering the aligned sheets to a conveyor and engaging a top surface and a bottom surface of the sheets by means of the conveyor, pressing the sheets together; conveying the stack to a gluing station; preparing a hot-melt adhesive at the gluing station; spraying a pre-set quantity of adhesive along the binding edge of the stack at the gluing station; scraping excess glue from the binding edge downstream of the gluing station;; delivering the stack to a taping station; leading a binding tape from a supply reel; applying a layer of adhesive to one surface of the tape; aligning the tape with the binding edge of the stack, the tape projecting upwardly of a top edge of the stack and downwardly of a bottom edge of the stack; pressing a central portion of the tape into engagement with the binding edge of the stack; folding an upper portion of the tape against a top sheet of the stack and simultaneously folding a lower portion of the tape against a bottom sheet of the stack; pressing the tape firmly against the binding edge of the stack and against the top sheet and the bottom sheet of the stack; cutting the tape upstream of the stack;; delivering the stack to a guillotine, and cutting excess material from free side edges of the stack and then cutting the stack in two, to produce a pair of bound writing pads of a pre-desired size.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 including the steps: delivering the stack to a drilling station upstream of the guillotine; positioning the stack beneath two pairs of drills at the drilling station by engaging a leading end of the stack against an end stop and then pushing a side edge of the stack against a side stop; operating the drills and advancing the drills downwardly to engage the stack and cut two pairs of holes in the stack; retracting the drills and conveying the drilled stack to the guillotine.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the step of passing each stack through a cutter upstream of the gluing station and serrating the binding edge of the stack by means of a cutter blade or blades.

4. A process as claimed in any preceding claim including the step of preparing the stacks by the steps: feeding a web of blank paper from a supply roll; delivering the web to a printing station; printing ruled lines on each side of the web at the printing station; cutting the ruled web into ruled sheets of a pre desired size; collating the sheets to form stacks of a pre desired number of ruled sheets, mounting a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet at opposite ends of each stack enclosing the ruled sheets.

5. A process as claimed in claim 4 including the step of simultaneously printing a margin line on the web when the ruled lines are being printed on the web.

6. A process as claimed in any of claims 1 - 3 including the steps of preparing the stacks by: feeding a web of blank paper from a supply roll; delivering the web to a printing station; printing a graph paper matrix on the web at the printing station; cutting the printed web into sheets of a pre desired size; collating the sheets to form stacks of a predetermined number of printed sheets, mounting a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet at opposite ends of each stack enclosing the printed sheets.

7. A process as claimed in any preceding claim including the step of perforating the sheets adjacent a binding edge of the sheets prior to collating the sheets.

8. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the binding adhesive when set is elastic.

9. A process substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10.Writing pads whenever produced by the process as claimed in any preceding claim.